From Mom, August 30, 2009

August 30, 2009


Hello my Fav-

I’m tired tonight. Yesterday, being Saturday and I didn’t have any one coming over. I decided to drag Mike up to Shirley’s and help her with her siding project. Dutch and Emma went too. We stayed there pretty late and got home about 2am. We got the siding put up on amber and Sam’s end of the trailer and replaced the old window with new vinyl windows. Shirley found a place to get windows, the trailer had odd sizes. So that’s very good. It should help a bit with heating because now she will have double plane window instead of single. Shirley had to go in Friday night and work graveyard shift because someone called in I guess. She got home around 7am; I woke her up around 11:30am. Dillon was at his father’s and Sam slept all day, amber was working. Today, mike and I set the pavers that I brought home in that truck. I still need more to finish the pathways in the back. Wes stayed in his room pretty much all day except that I made him get up and take care of a rat that he killed with one of his traps. I went to Costco today and got two more cases of canned dog food and to Wilco and got some more oral syringes to feed jack. The littlest puppy. I went to Fatty Patty’s and had our usual and ended up with a food baby. J Your cousin says hi. It was a little quieter in there today. The person you didn’t like working with was there eating and apparently she had gotten married and such. I didn’t recognize her at first cause her hair was different. Oh and Dan says hi too.

I was thinking today about your story of the gas chamber and you hooting and hollering and such. I realized that I was picturing you as I last saw you. With your hair long and such. So I was trying to picture you with short hair and in digi-camos. I remember the last time you cut all your hair off and how it made you looks a lot younger than actually you were. Remember how in sea cadets how they used to call you son? I just remembered that you guys used to call me Instructor Mom, haha. When I try to imagine you going thru training and doing courses it is easy to think that you will do good. Your light so you are faster than most, but at the same time you’re strong. We had a eviction Friday and they had changed the door locks so the key didn’t work and the slider door was open. I had to call Joseph over to pick the lock and it was taking him a bit because the lock was upside down. I told them that if only they had hired you, that you would have been in and opening the door already. Rachel, the manager, was there too.

Gretchen is covered with puppies. J The puppies are going to have to leave my room soon, they are really starting to stink it up. I took them downstairs today so they could have more room to play around in the pen and try out the paper potty pads. They are so fun to watch play. They played, then slept and then ate. Several times while I was working outside.

I made Mike watch Forrest Gump with me tonight. It was awesome. God dammit Gump you must be a fucking genius. Just too funny. haha. I cried when Jenny died just like always. Every time I see Gump's face when he is carrying out Lt. Dan and the bombs are being dropped behind him and he has that look of terror on his face. That must have cinched the Oscar win for Tom Hanks. I still want to watch the special features, I think that they would be interesting.

You don't have to respond to every comment in my letters that would make it hard to understand since there is such a big overlapping of our letters. Just maybe when I ask a question or if you have a question about something I write about. Just tell me what's going on with you or whatever you have on your mind. I love you a lot and looking forward to more letters. I don't know yet about family day and your graduation, yet. I would like to go if you don't have any leave after boot camp. But it would be expensive for us to go, Wes has said that he wants to go if I go. So we would be looking at two round trip tickets, hotel, rental car and meals. Expenses would add up real fast. We'll see I guess. Take care of yourself and your buddies.

Love Mom.

From mom, August 28th 2009

August 28, 2009-08-31

Hello Jerm.

It’s Friday yeah! Yesterday was Fritz’s birthday. But I totally forgot because I had a sick puppy. I was crying this morning cause I’m so tired. I’ve been awake since pretty early. The puppy started mewing constantly, I thought that I would take him to work with me and had him already to go in a basket with a zip lock bag of dried beans that I micro waved to keep him warm. Wes comes home from the VA and said that what they do right before they die. So I started leaking and I left the puppy home with Wes. Now, I’m just waiting for him to call me to tell me it’s over. I feel bad too because he was doing just fine last week and someone had decided that they wanted 2 puppies and we got a deposit for him. This morning I sent her an email telling her that he wasn’t doing at that well. Nest I’ll tell her he passed and offer her the last chocolate boy instead. Well he died and I just got done sending his people an email telling her. Other than that not much else has been going on today. It’s the end of the month so I’m all slowed down today tying up loose ends and such. Monday will be the same unless we get someone’s keys in early. Scott just drove by and caught me writing you out in front of the shop. He says hi and that he should join up so he can have less stress. Lol. I was gonna go to G&G tonight but someone just called and wants to see her puppy that she named Ella Fitzgerald. So I said sure. I’m hungry I guess I’ll pick up something on the way home like some curly fries from jack in the box. To tie me over till after this lady leaves. Tammy called me all excited cause she had gotten a letter from you today and you said that you had gotten one from her. That’s great news that your finally starting to get mail. J ya yippee. I hope you got a big pile of it. Well I’m going to cut my letter short today. I love you and miss you terribly and hope that you and the other smith are healthy and having fun J try to wash your hands as much as possible. Flu is coming and it doesn’t look promising.

Love ya lots

Mom

25 Aug 09

25 Aug 09

mom-

Gah! So we just got done with our two mile ruck march. My shoulders are a little sore but that’s it. My feet feel amazing tho. We are turning our sheets and pillow cases in right now so we can get clean ones. I mainly just sleep on top of all my covers. Then we are going to bleach everything cuz a lot of people are sick and trying to spread it. Then we are going to do more combatives. I’m waiting for chow. I’m hungry. It’s almost 4 in the morning for you right now. We are all still planning on what we are gonna do for our family day. I’m planning on getting a hotel room and just gonna eat food, ice cream junk food watch TV and use my cell phone. Haha. Who knows. I should be getting paid within the next week or so. So you might be getting a check here pretty soon. Maybe two depending on how much I get paid. But yeah you’ll know. We are pretty alike tho. I was reading your letter again. I still laughed when you total me about Fritz rolling off the bed. I can just picture it happening in my head. So did mike get that job or no? I think that would be a good job. I kinda have always wanted to be a mailman or ups/fedex guy. But hey if mike does get that job then technically we will both have government jobs haha. I just wish my training was as quick and easy as his. I bet it pays pretty good. I wonder if it is going to be by the mile tho. Still its Prolly pretty good. So now I keep hearing the whole duty station knowledge at about 5 weeks. Sounds kinda convincing but I still a just trying not to get my hopes too high. At one point just few people were saying that 80% of this graduating class or whatever is going to be stationed at FT Hood TX. Just cus they also said a lot of the last cycle went to korea. I would kind like to get stationed out of the country. I was gonna have my three picks be italy, germany, or Alaska. But who know. So yesterday I also got a letter from michelle. I thought that was kinda weird. But she didn’t really say the exact words but I’m thinking that she checked everyday for the address to come up. She did say it was her routine to do that. But she also keeps asking me if I could spend some of my break with her. I got other priorities. Like spending lots of time with my family. Then my close friends. And then maybe other people. Ahh! So the drill sergant just gave us this long speech about how he hates quitters and this isn’t that bad. It was kinda inspiring and motivational. Not saying that I wanna quit. Just helped me stay in check a bit. The main thing I will remember that he said is “do not base militarty life off of basic training. It is nothing like that. If it was that, then I would have been going a long time ago. That’s what I have been thinking to myself kinda. So chow is pretty soon. I’m hungry. I can’t wait to eat some actual food. So I just got done eating lunch chow plus all the combatives and damn. I just feel like I have a food baby. Its not a good feeling at all. But it was nice to eat to combatives is going by alright. Just learing stuff that I pretty much already knew but just how to do it more in the actual way. Me and the other smith are talking to other people about how its pretty stupid to quit now. Especially after red phase is over with. But we found out that there are 5 people trying to quit which is Prolly why the DS gave that speech today. But the company commander who is a 26 year old captain said that after red phase it pretty much just shooting rifles all day and then coming back plus the whole PT in the morning. And yeah I just don’t get why people would want to quit. But what ever. To each his own. There are f-ing shit up for the rest of us that actually want to be here. So screw them. My stomach finally feels better. Now they are talking about OJ simpson and stuff. Jeez now they are talking about Rodney King. Now its if jesus was white or black. Sometimes these people are just funny. What ever. So just so you know if we ever have a family emergency and I’m in the military, you can get a hold of me or send me notice through the RED CROSS. They pretty much send out an emergency telegram or whatever to me way fast and yeah. But I don’t really know how you use it or whatever. But yeah just to let you know. Because if you can’t call me, it will reach me faster than a letter. So we just got done with more combatives and we started pairing up and rolling which just means wrestling against each other. And then we had to start doing face slaps and body shots. I didn’t get hit that much at all. And now we are getting ready for evening chow. Pretty soon we are gonna start doing medical classes which won’t be bad. During some point of the medical we have to pair up and give each other IV’s. some people are scared but I’m not. I know how to use a needle and I’m sure I can put in an IV. Ahh so mail just came in and I got one more ltter from you. I was excited. Plus on from tammy and one from my friend Xanthia. So yeah this one was from the 20th so I think it might take 5 days at the soonest. I dk but anyways. Yes I miss talking to you so much. We do just kinda go along so well. We can just talk to each other and help each other out. People always call me a momma’s boy and I am always prouod to admit it. But uhh yeah I bet it will be nice to have that break. Well I’m sure Fritz will survive he will just have some powerful seed for the next batch. Haha. I miss him. And sadie. I can’t think of Sadie having bad intentions unless somebody is in her bubbl. I know Dutch was going to grow into a lion haha. I told you. Ya should have named him samba or mufusa. That way you could walk up to him and be like “Que passa mufasa: J. Seem like the business was a good ideal for you. Makes me happy. Yeah the humidity here is mainly what gets me. But it is kinda mellowing down. We had a cold front yesterday. But I will write you tomorrow. To be honest on one part I don’t like being independent cuz I like to be around you. But its gotta happen eventually. Well I miss ya bunches.

Love Ya
Jeremiah
Your Fav

RECEIVED AUGUST 28, 2009

23 Aug 09

23 aug 09

Dear mom,

It was so nice getting to talk to you for a bit today. Like we actually got to talk and everything for longer than 5 minutes. Made me miss home even more. Oh well, I can’t believe that I haven’t gotten any mail from you. I wonder if they are holding mail or something I don’t know. Maybe it just takes a while to process, Gah. I’m so jealous that you were at Fatty Patty’s when I called you. I have actually been like thinking about it and craving it. If I get back we’re are going to be going there. Ha ha so I checked my bank account and I only had 11 dollars in there so I can’t send you your money yet. But I’m supposed to be getting paid on the 1st so yeah but I do still wanna do that box and money. I think that’s gonna be the best way to save my money. I’m sure you agree with me and that way I won’t be able to spend it at all. I might wait to get a car but maybe not since I’m probably going to deploy so why would I need to buy a car when I can’t drive it. I will just have to figure it all out in time and such. I just get so impatient thinking about it ya know. And I’m not planning on getting a new car either. Just another Subaru with a new engine and then later on an older suburban and I wanna get a new engine for that, and then after that I wanna get a bug that’s in really good condition and get a porche engine for that and yeah. Then I might just might get a motorcycle. But that’s not a fer sure thing yet. Prolly won’t but who knows. But it definitely not gonna be the first thing I get. No No. So I went to church today. For no reason really. Mainly to get out of the barracks and I took a nap in there. But it was interesting, very weird by interesting.

24 Aug 09

So I kinda went to sleep last night but yeah I just got out of chow at lunch and we have been doing more combatives today. Just learning the basics maybe. We might learn some submission moves and stuff like chokes. But yeah. It’s kinda hard. We have to learn all this stuff and be able to teach it back to the instructor the way they taught us to be able to be certicified. And that only to be certified for level 1. There is 4 levels. If you get to level 3 or 4 then you can pretty much definitely beat anyone anysize anyday. But yeah I’m just getting the basics down. Ahh so I got five of your letters today.I think that the last one I got was on the 18th. So it takes a little bit to get here. And thank you for the stamps. I should be fine for a few days. It was so nice to get the letters tho. I almost cried. Smith says hi and when you gonna let him spend the night? Bunkmate Serrato says thank you and god bless. He is getting medically discharged tho. He says he wants to get all fixed then go for the Air Force instead. That’s what he wanted to do anyways. Thank you for sending the address to others. One kid had a bunch of letters and they were addressed wrong and he had to do 50 push ups for each one. Came to a total of 950 I think. I did 100 of those for him. I’m sorry to hear about your spectra but at least it wasn’t Wes’ fault this time. I bet it was nice having that big truck. Wish I could’ve rode around in it to HD with you. Good to hear that you are getting to spend some time with your alleged grandson’s. Funny to hear about Ann’s tooth. That aint genetic. And now she is going to have one good tooth. Yeah we have heard about the storm and had some rain and thunder storms a few times. I don’t think we are going to be helping with the national guard work. That would throw us off the training schedule. Cant have any of that. Good to hear about Mike. Hope he gets a job too. And that the bankruptcy thing is over with. I bet its nice to have a clean slate. Try not to build up again tho. I’m sorry about the puppy. It happens tho I hope you didn’t lose any money over it. Your advice was very helpful to me and I hope that I get more as more problems may come up. They are very true tho and I will more than likely re-read them. I smiled so big when my roster # was called out. Then again and again and again. They must group them up. I think the letters go to MEPS in Portland then processed over to here. I dk it’s a weird system just like the army. I’m not going to write back to them all individually tho. Only I will when I get them on separate days. I miss you bunches. Thank you for the pictures of the dogs. That made me laugh. I miss the dogs too and Sadie. I hope she won’t have to get used to me again, but she Prolly will. But then again she did know my sent. That’s what made her stop barking. So I heard that we know about our duty station on our 5th week. But that’s also more talk to so I don’t know. I don’t really know what Wes’s dad went in for but I do have a few guesses. Sorry to hear about Fran. Yeah OK would be better for her. I have a ruck march tomorrow. That the one with the big bag and all that shit and my bullet proof vest and stuff. I saw Christina a few times when I was at your house. I think Dan’s little brother is living there too, but he friend said he was Prolly going to his parents for a while there to get back on his feet. But who knows. Its not like Shelby didn’t used t bark. Yes I will pay you back for my bill. That the first thing I am doing with my money. My DS’s (there are three for my platoon) are kinda getting cooler. Along with the weather. The sun still burn. My feet are fine now. I don’t know when I will get to call you again but I really do look forward to it. I was wondering when we get to use our cell phones but I don’t know. Well I am gonna go to bed. But I will Prolly write you tomorrow.

Love Ya.
Jeremiah
Your fav.

RECEIVED AUGUST 28th, 2009

From Mom, August 26, 2009

Hello my fav-

I’m sitting outside of HH103 (or as I like to call it Hell Hell 103), eating an Oregon from Mochas Gracias. Yummy. It is the perfect combination all rolled into a neat package. I just got done replacing a water heater on this vacant unit. It wasn’t leaking or anything, but the seam in the back was split open. So only a matter of time before it goes kinda thing. There’s a bee buzzing around my PowerAde. Yum this is so good. You should have a list of stuff that you wanna do the next time your home. A lady that I talked to last week about one of the chocolate boys, called this morning all excited about him. They took the weekend to make their decision. I like it best when people take some time to think about everything involved with having a pet, especially a puppy. I’m totally stuffed now. I’m still waiting to hear back from the people that came out last night. I have someone coming down from Bellingham Saturday to look; they may end up with only one puppy choice to choose from. I sure wish I knew how long it takes for you to get a letter. I didn’t get anything from you Monday or Tuesday so I figure that you must be getting busier finally or not following your battle buddy around. So I’ve moved on to my next unit and once again the water heater has to go. It’s going to take awhile for it to drain there’s a lot of sediment in the bottom. I heard back from the couple that came out on Monday night and they’re mailing me a deposit. So now there’s just one left. I had someone call this morning and I’m waiting to hear back from her. I think that I’m going to tell here that he is chosen. I put a notice on my website for people to get on my waiting lists for Hiedi and Emma due to the high demand for the puppies. I just stopped and poked a wire thru the drain valve again and it seems to be draining better. At least I’ve really recently turned this unit and I don’t have really much that I need to do in here, except for the water heater. Joseph and I are replacing any water heater that we come across whenever we have just the slightest reason. Last week I did one just cause it was next door to another one I was doing. Our reasoning is that most of them are at least 20 to 15 years old depending on which phase it’s in and the life expectancy for one is on average 11 to 12 years. I told Joseph that they are ticking time bombs just waiting to go. It is way better to replace one on a turn that in someone’s apartments in the middle of the night. Gretchen was so funny last night. She was talking. She wanted to go outside and was going who who who bark and I said “do you need to go outside?” and Gretchen goes who who who who. Ha ha. It was so funny. She is such a clown sometimes. Of course Hiedi is still being Hiedi and Fritz, Fritz. Other than work and the puppies not much else is going on around here. Someone came out and measured Grandma and Grandpa’s garage door. So that should be getting installed in a couple of weeks. Sorry about my letter being all grease stained. The countertops aren’t exactly clean here. Still waiting for this water heater to drain, they drain a lot faster when they are upstairs. But I don’t like hauling them up and down the stairs. It’s starting to warm up. It’s about 4:30, I’m in M103 so now I’m getting the afternoon sun. All done with the water heater. Time for me to go home.

Love ya,
Mom

21 Aug 09

Dear Mom,

Gah, so today we did the gas chamber today. I thought it was kinda funny with everything. It kinda burned your exposed skin when you had your mask on especially if there was moisture on your skin. So of course with this f-ing Georgia weather I was sweating and it was pouring down my neck which was exposed and yeah that part pretty much felt like the hot part of Ben gay or Icy Hot. Then we had to pull the mask 2 inches away from our face and say our last name and the last four of our social. That wasn’t bad at all if you know how to clear and seal your mask, which I knew how to do. But after everyone did that they put more CS gas in there and then we had to take our masks off. Put our Kevlar helmets on, hold our gas mask in our left hand while grabbing onto the person in front of us then holding our rifle in our right hand plus some other things and yeah if you got anything wrong you had to got through again. One dude had to go through four times. People were crying and snot was dangling long from peoples faces. A few puked and there were some Drama Queens too. Me I did fine. Shoot I actually volunteered to go in again without a mask and I had to walk two laps around the whole building then I got to go out. They had people taking pictures and video and stuff for the yearbook and other items you can buy for memory that I have no want for. There is one thing I am getting but that is for you. All in all it was kinda fun for me. People kept saying that I was crazy or I had some balls. In the pics and video I was just smiling and laughing. Hooting and hollering. Everyone else was just all sorts of messed up. It was truly diabolical was how I described it. Ha ha. When you tell Shari to tell Darrin Happy B-day for me. Its on the 22nd so you might get this a little late. But it’s the thought that counts right? He he But other that that I think we have combatives tomorrow but I dk exactly what we are doing for that. Like I think the DS is gonna try to punch us or something. Either that or we gotta take on one other person and try to make them tap out. Something. Who knows. Everything here and pretty much in the army is as good as a guess. That and it changes all the time. So there is these two dudes here that got bit by a brown recluse spider. I dk if that’s how it is spelled but pretty much it rots the skin around the bite. And apparently you can’t feel it bite you. But now these dudes got holes now. They had to get the rotted skin cut out. Seriously the bugs here in Georgia are ridicules. They are either really huge ore they do something really weird. The cockroaches in the barrack suck. But then again just about everything does. I got put in the Alpha running group which is the fastest. When we ran our first timed mile I ran it in 7:00 flat. Which was kinda surprising to me. I thought I was still outta shape. I’m still tired all the time though. I can’t seem to get over it. I accidentally washed my wallet the other day. Kinda sucks. I had my social security card in there. I know it’s probably just cuz we have been in these barracks for a while but I am starting to get more irritated by people. It’s mainly cuz they are doing stupid ass shit. I don’t really like half of my platoon. All they do is bitch and moan and complain. Sometimes they think they know everything and when someone call someone out for something. They gotta get all tough and pretty much start dick measuring. Per say. I still try and ust worry about myself. I have like one person that I kinda hang out with. He is the other Smith in the platoon. But other then that. I dk I hate this shit. I can’t wait for this shit to be over with. I’m starting to lose my voice already. It sucks, I hope I get to call you on Sunday. That would be so nice. How are all the dogs and Fritz? J I miss coming over and playing with them all. Has anyone sent any mail to your place to send to me yet? You remembered to put your address on my profile didn’t you? I hope so. I feel so lonely here without getting any letters. I know that it is gonna take them a while to get to me but I would still like some. Ha-ha. Well now I’m starting on Week 2 finally. The theory I have is that the days go by slow but the weeks go by fast. Did you ever make a decision on if you wanted to come down or not? I just wanna know ahead of time. So pretty much Dickson lied about a lot of things to me. Which is kinda what recruiters do but maybe he just didn’t know. Who knows. I still remember the ride to the airport from the hotel. I remember just about everything from our last day. Especially how bad we had to pee that day. He he. That was a lot of fun. I miss you mommy. I don’t like being homesick. Sometimes I wonder why I ever left. But then I remember things weren’t always that great. But I still kinda miss it. Maybe that’s because it was what I was used to. I just hope that this whole thing works out for the better and not for the worse. I would hate having to regret the whole thing. I dk. But other than that, everything is okay I guess. A lot of people are sick here and I’m sure it’s gonna spread to me and shit. I already got a sore throat when I wake up in the morning. It kinda goes away as the day wears on. So how many puppies do ya got sold so far? Hopefully that’s going good for you. So is it nice having time off and shit not having to work at Home Depot? I’m sure the extra sleep is very nice. Well I’m gonna go but I can’t wait to get some news from you. Any hopefully other people write too.

Love ya,
Jeremiah

RECEIVED AUGUST 26th 2009

August 25, 2009

August 25, 2009-08-26


Hi Jerm,

I am hand writing today. I’m at the freaking compactor letting it do it’s thing. Of course some douse bag left their bag of trash on the ground even tho the compactor wasn’t even close to being full. I HATE PEOPLE! J I sold another puppy this morning. 3 more to go. I have someone coming down from Bellingham on Saturday to have a look at them. I don’t know which one they’re interesting. They are probably personality matching, which I think is best. That lady who wanted Lil Guy last spring contacted me again about getting a puppy. I wonder if she finally talked her husband into it. He was not so sure about it before. But then she was going thru cancer treatment at the time. She better act fast. Fritz has got a date with Lulu on the first of September!!! Bounchickabounboun J Remember the Lady that really like Fritz that time we were coming out of Wilco? She is ready to breed her labradoodle. And here I was thinking the other day that poor Fritz was out of luck until next spring. Depending on when Sadie goes into heat again, I may let her puppy again. It was 9 months between her last two litters. So I’m thinking if she goes into heat atleast 6 months or more from her last batch, she will be okay to breed. Sadie is yours by the way when you are ready for her. I’m not going to breed her after she is eight years old and will have her fixed at that time. She loves you anyways and will be a good dog for you to have. She will be happy to be in her bed during the day so you wouldn’t have to feel guilty about leaving her to go to work and such. Sadie is also good about alerting you to strangers. Hang on I got to go do a work order :p Boy that lady is weird, she’s doing this telemarketing thing while I’m trying to fix stuff in her apartment. “I can help you make more money” She says that her husband is a long haul truck driver. I think that if I were him, I’d wanna do long haul just to get away from hearing that all the time. The apartment that I’m working in today is trashed. I think that they were asked to leave because they were way behind on their rent. They shook comet cleaner all over the place so now I’m covered with it. I have to finish up in there tomorrow and I’ll have it all over me again. It smells like someone is making fried bologna sandwiches or something like that. I’m sitting in the parking lot outside of HH building. Wes is always asking me if I’m going over to grandma’s after work for dinner. To see if he can get out of cooking dinner for me. He he. I guess it’s no fun to cook when you can’t eat it without throwing it up. I wonder how he keeps his weight on, ya know? A lady just called a bit a go and wants to come over tonight and see the puppies. I’m almost feel like I have more people than puppies right now. It was quiet all weekend with no emails or phone calls. Then suddenly last night I got a bunch of people wanting to puppies. Okay back to the compactor to cycle it. Mike is texting me, he wants to go see Inglorious Bastards. Man I got heartburn. Must be from smelling those sandwiches. It’s weird how the smell of something can make my insides feel like they are on fired. Almost 5pm. I wish it was 5:30 so I’d be leaving for home. It’s so nice to have evenings off. I go home, mess around with the dogs, sometimes go for a walk. I need new shoes again. These ones I have make the bottom of my heels hurt whenever I go for long walks. Heartburn’s gone, yeah! Today I’m sending you a letter from Nicole by the time you get this one, you should have received letters from Tammy, Grandma, Wes and a couple of people from Fatty Patty’s. I hope that the letters help keep you from getting too homesick. It’s nice to be able to read them more than once. I really enjoy hearing stuff about training from you. I think that it’s funny that I’m sitting here by the compactor for more than 20 minutes writing you and cycling the compactor. It was raining this morning really light. So light that you couldn’t even feel it landing on you face. The sun has finally come out and it feels nice to sit in the sun. I gotta get going and put my stuff away. I hope there’s a letter in the mail box tonight when Emma and I go to check it. Talk to you tomorrow.

Love
Mom

From Mom, August 24, 2009

Dear Jeremiah, my Favorite.

It was great being able to talk to you for more than a couple of minutes today. I had my usual at Fatty Patty's. I have a couple of notes from them, they were pretty busy today so I didn't get as many as I hoped for. I will try again next weekend for more. I sent you stamps in my first letter. I will send you more later. I figure that it will be better to just send a few at a time. Less chance for some to come up missing. Let me know if you need anything else if it can be sent to you. It was pretty cool that on the day I have no chance of getting a letter from you, I get to talk to you on the phone. Here's Gretchen's snow is cold picture to remind you of snow.

I had that girl back today to see her replacement puppy. She loves her of course and her mom is very happy. I had a lady return and put a deposit on the puppy she liked on Wednesday. Four more to get deposits on. Four weeks to go before they can go home. I'm hoping everyone will be placed by then. It will be nice to be able to concentrate more on training the big dogs. Wouldn't that be cool if you get a leave so you can go with me to the dog park? haha. I bet the people we used to see there are missing you.

I installed a ceiling fan in Grandpa's man cave today, it matches the room really good. Kinda like we had the fan and decorated the room around it, it matches that good. Grandpa likes it. Grandma thinks it makes the room cold. :) of course. Shirly and Dillon came down last friday and we went to HD and ordered a new garage and garage door opener for them.

It is great hearing about the different things you are doing for training. What time do you get up in the morning? Lights out? and stuff? Is the chow better where you are now? I hope so. You need to eat to have enough energy to train. I hope that even though are you're just trying to blend in in the middle that you still do your best and such. It would be cool to achieve a marksmanship type standing or something. That was just like you to go to the gas chamber twice.

Mike is here with me and he is watching the Valkyrie movie. Maybe he will find out if he got the job tomorrow. That would be nice. Get him working and keep him out of trouble. He said tonight that Ann already has a new guy and that she is moving somewhere else in Vancouver. Apparently it only takes a week to kick one guy out and invite a new one it.

I'm actually looking forward to working tomorrow so I can print my letters from you from this weekend and come home and see if there's a new letter in my mail box from you. Scotland Michael Allen asked about you the other day and I told him you were doing fine and was adjusting to the heat and stuff and he said to tell you hello. I love and miss you a lot. I miss just hanging out doing nothing at all, I miss eating at Fatty Patty's with you and just talking to you.

Love ya,

Mom

19 Aug 09

Dear Mom

So today we did the Eagle Confidence Tower which is pretty much rope obstacles in the air, like a two rope and three rope bridges. Ya know and the repel wall. People fell into the safety nets and others cried but the majority did fine. A few people like me flew through the f-ing thing. But I got sunburned on my face like a mofo. My nose especially. Tomorrow we have a class on NBC That's um Nuclear Biological and Chemical. We were issued our masks last night. But yes we have that class tomorrow and then the next day we go into the gas chamber and all that jazz. So yeah I am kinda excited for all that shit. I'm gonna try not to puke at most but I don't know how well that is going to work. I'm definately down to see some people freak the f out. I know there's going to be a few. I wanna watch it. Its all supposed to be about trusting your equipment. I have no doubt in mine. If it fails then oh well. ha ha. Sometime soon we are supposed to be doing combatives. Where pretty much the DS is just supposed to take some swings at us and we are supposed to block it or take a punch in the face. So the people that are dumbasses or that they don't like are pretty much f-ed. Me, I don't have anything to be worried about cuz I'm just trying to be the invisible soldier and shit ya know. Like I don't stick out in any way or anything. I pretty much just do as I'm told then I stay in the shadows. I'm not trying to be an over achiever or underachiever. That was this will just go by kinda fast and to the other guys I will kinda just be another normal soldiers. The only way I stick out to them is I do a really really good impression of Forest Gump and I can recite, quote remember and talk about movies and music and shit a lot. But that about it ha ha. So I still haven't gotten a letter from you yet but it's only been a few days since I told you the address so I doubt it's gonna get here for a while. I dk. I just can't wait to get one from you that's gonna be like the first contact to the outside world ha ha. Well I'm gonna go to bed I think cuz I have fire guard tonight. But I wanted to ask a favor. Do you think you could send some stamps? I don't get to go to the PX for a while.

Love Ya
Jeremiah

Your favorite

From mom, August 23, 2009

Hello My Fav-

So today I didn't do much but stay home and take care of the dogs. I dewormed the dogs this morning and took the poodles for a 3 mile walk. Gave Hiedi and Emma a bath cause they played on the pond. Cut Fritz and Emma's hair and gave them baths, Emma's second. Dewormed the puppies and gave them their first shot. They are growing good, one is a nice little runt. His name is Jack and is going to live in Oregon. I've had a few other interested people but no commitments.

Mike is still waiting to find out if he got a job driving mail. I met the lady who interviewed him and thought that she was pretty nice. Ann is driving him nuts. I hope he stays away from her. and follows the advice that I gave you about not telling a girl your bank balance or giving her access to your account or give her money. He needs his own space and such.

Another letter from you today. It is so great to get a letter pretty much everyday. I am so impressed that you are writing this much. It so sounds like you have been able to participate in some trainging finally. Yeah. Everyday I walk to the mail box with Emma to leave a letter for you and see if you sent me a letter. I think that you should be finally getting letters form me by now. It would be a nice way to spend Sunday for you. I wonder if you will call like you did last week. It would be nice to hear your voice. Today your letting told me about the rope course. I can be you had fun with that. My monkey. You were always such a good climber.

Wes and Mike drove up to see Fran today, but they didn't stay long and were only gone for about a couple hours of visiting time plus drive time.

I'm going to write more tomorrow.

Love Mom.

18 Aug 09

Dear Mom,

So I was information today and the DS was talking to us about more stuff and he said if you are single you pretty much have 24 hours to report to your unit after AIT unless you have hometown recruiting, which I don't have or you have time off which I probaly won't get, so yeah. After I report to my unit I might be able to get time off but I dk. I'm starting to not care anymore just because my hopes are getting up then shut down. I don't like it. Today we did a leadership reaction course. Pretty much that's like they split you into groups and there are these stations and they give like a objective and a few supplies and you have to complete the objective in a certain amount of time. And you can't fall in the water. Which I didn't do but the DS made me get into the water. All the way. But I think that it kinda felt nice cuz it was fresh water so it was cold and it got hot today. Just about like everyday except yesterday wasn't too bad. Rained quite a bit. Oh but on a good note about the whole unit thing is you pretty much work a 9 t0 5 job with PT in the morning and yeah after that you get to go back to your pad. That is unless you don't get deployed and stuff. I wonder what that is going to be like. That's probably going to be a long ass year when I do get deploy. Hopefully I can bring a cell phone or something cuz if I can then I am going to make my number international. I have bee wanting so much to keep that same number. Its like the only way I will be able to get a hold of people. But I hear different things about that too so it could happen, I don't know. If I can't then I am just going to figure all that out later. So how many puppies are sold so far? Anyone else knocked up. You got awhile for Emma but the Dutch lion should be getting of age here pretty soon right? I bet its going to be a frenzy for his offspring, ha ha. I miss all them dogs. Especially Fritz. I still don't know if I want one for sure yet but I can't have one now because I will be gone all the time and I would feel bad for leaving it alone all the time. But maybe when all this stuff is done then I might get one. Who knows. I would love to get Sadie when she retires but by the time I am done she might be kinda old and I have a feeling that she is going to be deaf and all that when she gets older. I'm sure you can see all that happening. Maybe Gretchen tho. I know you are going to keep Fritz and Wes is going to keep Hiede. But Dutch is way too young otherwise I would want to take that lion when the time comes, ha ha. If I find anyone that wants a dog in here or after training should I tell them that they would get a military discount? I'm thinking about getting another one of those safes like what you got and having you keep cash in there for me. Actually I am probably going to do that. But I was thinking bout just sending you a check and then having you cash it and put it in the box. You think you would be okay with that? And just keep building it and building it and stuff. That way it cannot be touched only by me and you tho like if you needed cash on the spot. You could take it. And pay it back when you get the chance. I wouldn't care but the first check I send you is gonna be for that fine when I can make sure I have money in my account. It might not be till September or October they have an atm here but I haven't seen a chase bank or atm around. But you will get the check sometime. I know you are probably not worried about it at all. Well maybe a little bit ha ha. Well I almost got one week here done so only like 13 more to go. I probably shouldn't be doing it but everyday that ends I have been marking down a tally mark. It just helps me keep track. How's work going lately? Anyone been asking about me at all? Anything new or cool or not-so-good going on? I need to be updated ha ha. I'm going to go to bed now.

Love Ya,
Jeremiah

PS Don't forget to put a 4 in a circle one the back.

From Mom, August 20th 2009

Hello Jerm,

I was so excited today!! I walked to the mail box with Emma trotting along beside me to post a letter to you and when I opened the box, there was another letter from you!!! That was perfect timing. I wish that the same could happen to you, but I suspect that you will get several letters from me at one time and then maybe go a few days without receiving anything.

We are doing okay. I do miss you a lot. It is hard not having you around to talk to like we used to do. I doubt that I would feel the same with anyone else. You are the Sunshine of my Life as Stevie Wonder said. I am so proud of you going off on your own and doing this. You have always been so independent and self-relient. What you are doing right now is the hardest part of being in the army, that's why you will always hear tales about guys going to boot camp and what happened there. You hardly ever hear much about what they did afterwards unless they were shipped overseas, that's really what boot camp is for you know. To prepared you for overseas combat. You will have more training after boot but nothing will ever compare to it.

Poor Fritz, I'm not planning on using him to breed until spring as Dutch will be bred to Emma, Hiedi, Jolly and Gretel. Gretchen and Sadie will be taking a break their next heat cycle to recuperate and regain body fat. Fritz don't know this though and he keeps checking the girls for ripeness. At least I will know when someone is starting to go into heat. LOL Fritz misses you. He missed going to the dog park and chasing the ball. I'm not going to return to the dog park until all the puppies have gone home.

Dutch is getting big! He now out weighs everyone else by more than 5 pounds. He is now 61 pounds. Still bone raw boned looking and I think he may grow a bit more. He is now 7 months and should keep growning for atleast another 2 months. Emma is done growing and weighs 37 pounds.

I just got done giving all the babies a bath and momma too. I started giving them puppy gravy in the evenings when I get home from work. This of course means crunchy puppies. They are now also peeing alot. So sometimes they end up all wet. It is hard to keep the cloth puppy pad flat under them in the crate, so it can soak up the pee. I still have 5 puppies to place, with three more that are under consideration. I think that after all these puppies go home I should have atleast three months without any puppies to care for. This will be nice so I can do more training with Dutch and Emma. They need it that's for sure. They actually all need reminding now and then. Sadie is still fascinated by the puppies and she is always trying to lick them from below. I'm not sure of her intentions or if I should trust her with them or not.

The last few days this week have been warmer but humidity wise it's been about 65%. It is still hot and makes me sweat and stuff. But I know what the high humidity feels like. Home Depot is air conditioned with swamp coolers. Which are pretty much like they sound like. They cool by throwing moisture into the air. So when I was working there, I could be fine all day working in vacant apartments and go to work at HD and be drenched within minutes of getting there.

I woke up to the god awful smell of Dog Shit this morning. Poor Dutch kept making these quiet little barks and woke me up at about 5:30 am. I was not happy. I took all the dogs outside and they all had the squirts. I interrogated Wes and found out that he had feed them all a bunch of dog food mixed with people food. You just can't to that. A little nibble of something now and then is okay but not a whole meal if they aren't used to it. Shitsville. They are still shitting soft. I better not wake up tomorrow to that smell that's for sure.

That's too bad about your battle buddy having so much problems with his back that the both of you are missing out on training. It can make it hard to catch up with everyone else.

I keep stopping to watch Gretchen's babies crawl all over her. They are some fluffy babies now that they got their baths, too bad they don't stay clean longer. Oh well it just means that they will be used to taking baths when they get to their families.

The TV just said that Cheetahs like to roll in Daisies because Daisies smell so good to them that they can't resist. I keep thinking about Forest Gump too. Forest just went with the flow, where ever that took him. That's why he didn't have any trouble going thru boot camp. He got told to go somewhere or to do something and he just did it. I wonder what it was that he and Bubba did that they had to scrub the floor with their tooth brushes. I need to watch the special features. I love that movie, Joseph and I are always quoting it at work cause the residents can be so stupid. :)

Anyways I love you and I will write you more tomorrow and the next day and the next day after that. Take care of your self and keep your feet dry, your eyes straight ahead, shoulders up and your heart light. You know time will keep going at the same pace that it always does and soon you will be on to something new.

Love Mom

17 Aug 09

Mom-

So pretty much I'm just sitting here at the sick hall waiting for my battle buddy to get done and stuff. I think that he is going to be discharged and stuff. I kinda feel bad but he has a two week old daughter and stuff so maybe it is better for him to go home. Today I am pretty sure that I missed the intro to the obstacle course. But I dk yet I might still be able to do it. Who knows, but I am supposed to actually start doing some training now instead of bs and stuff. I'm kinda excited. I just want to be able to kill time. If I ever do start doing things. I wish I could call you again and already be able to talk to you. So now that your actually going to able to reply to me, how is everything? It just got done having a rain spout and it was just pouring down. Thought it was going to flood which would have sucked cuz I am outside waiting I hope you got that commanders letter I sent you. I dk if you wanna come or not. You need to let me know if you want to so I can set up my family stuff. f you do want to do then-plan for the second graduation on the 19th and 20th. I dk. I need to just worry bout the now and stuff. I hate being homesick. Do you miss having me around at all? I be grandma does. I'm so not used to the fact that I have no life anymore. I miss being around the people that I knew. Sometimes I wonder if Ava misses me. You should ask Shari if she does or not. That would be funny. Did Mike finish his school and stuff yet? Maybe he can schedule to drive down to Georgia and back and just pick me up or something haha. Ask him if that is even possible. I would be down for that. I hope he found a job at least. How crazy if Ann being lately? I wish Mike would get all that sorted out finally. It's really going to screw him over in the long run. I need to hurry up and finish and get the f out of here. I not quitting tho it's pretty much pointless to do that. They always say the best way to get out of here is to just finish training and all that. I believe it too. I just really f-ing hate it. But I guess that's the point. They just try as hard as they can to break you doing and then after all that breaking down and stuff they try to mold you to how they want you to be. I just don't think that I can work like that. I don't like that whole idea. I guess I am just trying to work with it all. I wanna write about something interesting instead just making you read all this ranting and bs but its kinda hard when nothing different has really been happening yet and that I haven't gotten any letters from you yet. I can't wait for one of your letters either. I wanna talk about so much with you. I wish it could be on the phone or even in person, that would be nice. Like I kinda almost want you to come to my graduation just so we can see each other but I dk if you want to or will even be able to. Like you'd have to get a hotel room for a couple nights. and then maybe a car to drive here with. Then there is the plane ticket too. I wish that would tell me sooner if I am going to be able to go home and stuff. I think I am going to with thanksgiving being around that time and all. And I told that Paige girl that I might be able to have thanksgiving with her family again. I had thanksgiving there last year. Her family likes me I think. Well I know her mom does and everything. I wonder if I am even going to have a choice in were I want to go to. I know that its still the beginning of training and stuff but I don't like dealing with bs and that seem to be one of the main things the army does. November 20th doesn't seem like that far away then again at the same time it does. I think that I am going to make a little calender or something. I miss west coast so much. I'm going try and stationed there when I wanna go to college and stuff. Like I wonder if its at all possible for me to live in the fort or something by clark. I wouldn't mind being a recruiter for my last couple years. Then going to school or something. I think that what I am going to do when I re-enlist and all that stuff. After my 3 years are up I think that what I might do. Cuz I know you can do it for almost 3 years. And I only wanna do like 5 years total but I might as well do the full three of recruiting. Have a bit more money and all. I just wonder what I am going to do until then like where my duty station is going to be at and stuff. I might try to get deployed twice or something. I will have to figure all that stuff out in time. Probably way later on down the road. I guess that sometimes when I am set on something I like to plan ahead. Who knows I just want to get this whole thing done and over with. So I can move on to the next thing. I love being impatient sometimes ha ha. So is Mike still living in your barn and stuff. I hope my thing will be OK when I get them and stuff. I have no idea when that will be tho but probably when I eventually get a place of my own. I dk when I'm gonna be getting a car. I wanna get them in a year or something or like maybe I will just wait till I get into recruiting or something. Who knows I need to stop thinking sometimes. Just worry about the now. I don't know how to do that when I really ain't got nothing to do I hate sitting around and stuff. Have you been watching your movies that I got you lately?I am definitely going to be getting a copy of forest gump when I can watch movies. Well I think I will write to ya later.

Love Ya

Jeremiah

Don't forget bout the myspace thing. You should use your address.

RECEIVED AUGUST 20TH 2009

From Mom, August 19th 2009

Hi Jerm,

It was so great to get your letters, yes I got both of them the same day. I'm glad that you are finally in training and can actually start doing what you went to Georgia to do. It would be nice not to have your next duty station any where in the south. But, Fate is cruel, so try not to wish too much for something. We should finally get the KIA back from the body shop today. The truck has been fun to drive around just cause it is big and makes noise when you drive it. But of course the down side is that it eats gas like it's going out of style. I'm not quite sure what that saying means, but it is fun to say that 's for sure. :) I'm on call this weekend which sucks monkey balls (another fun thing to say! ha-ha) but I have no plans anyways. I did get the "BILL" for your Fred Meyer's incident. I still need to pay it though for you. You will be paying me back right? Brittany (John's Brittany) came over and fell in love with one of the puppies. So is going to try and talk John into letting her have him. I told her that I would give her a Military discount. That little boy just loved her, its funny cause I haven't seen him act like that before. He usually seems to complain about life. Funny little guy. Anyways it what be nice for Brittany to have a dog when John has to be away from her. She said he will be here around labor day weekend. Everyone around here is doing good. Grandma and Grandpa are doing okay, they miss you and I haven't been able to go over there like I want to because of the KIA situation and Wes having a lot more dr appointments than usual. Wes had another tooth pulled yesterday, so we had to do the usual protecting the world at large from out of his mind Wes. He don't remember anything after walking thru the door at the dentist. Like he is missing a big block of time yesterday. I forgot to tell you that the whole bankruptcy thing went okay the other day, so pretty soon we can put that whole thing behind us and start out fresh. Of course that bad thing is that it will be on our credit report for several years to come. But we will survive. Maybe when you get our of the army you can buy our house, I think that I'm taking my blocks though. I'm hoping to move out of there in fives years. Fritz misses you. So do the rest of the dogs. You are their favorite you know. It just isn't the same with Mike, cause you have spend the most time with them from the very beginning. Sadie still has issues with him. I wonder if she will have to get to know you all over again every time you get to come home for a visit. I love you and miss you. Thank you so much for sending me so many letters. My plan is to write you every day especially at first. Take care of yourself and stay focused. The boot camp will go by so fast and you will be so proud of going thru it. It would be very cool if you got some marksmen points or awards. Tell your battle buddy that I hope his back stops giving him problems soon and say "hi", "hey" or "howdy", which ever is the most appropriate, to the other Smith for me.

Love Mom

16 Aug 2009

Mom-

So today at this moment we are getting our rifles issued to us. Which is nice. But I have had only one and a half hours of sleep since last night. I had to accompany my battle buddy to the emergency room. I tried to sleep there but it didn't really go too well. So I am pretty exhausted. And we have to take a long class about our rifles today too which I have to try my hardest to stay up for I am going to try and take some notes. One of my DS's was explaining the mail process to us and I found out that I can get my letters to you within a couple days but your letters can take anywhere from a week to 20 days just to get to me after all the sorting and seperating. I am going to try and have another discussion with a different ds here pretty soon about the whole plane ticket thing.I have been thinking, you should look up train tickets too just in case that may be cheaper. One dude told me that I should just rent a car and drive home, but that is such a long drive. Although if you decide to come down I might not even have to worry about all that. But it kinda all depends on if I can get the hometown recruting program. Pretty much just talk to SGT Dickson to you get the chance to. I was just thinking about our trip to Seattle. That was so much fun. I can't wait to do more things like that with you. So Day 3 is going ok so far besides that lack of sleep and all that good stuff. We hae a lot of shit to memorise right now. But we have been seeing other platoons and shit walking around and I have been asking thme when it starts getting better and they all say it gets better after the first couple of weeks. I have no idea what is going to be going on when I get done with training. I might have to go to my duty station right after all of it or if I might get some leave or something. I just need to talk to either my DS or Sgt Dickson. But I don't really get to use the phone that much so I don't really know what to do. All I know is that it would be so nice to be able to come back and do things. Like sleep. Idk Mainly I am just waiting for the years that I am doing this to go by and then I will have my money and stuff. And then I get to let my hair grow back. I hate having it so short and shit. I wouldn't mind if I could grow it out just a bit ya know. So I just got my rifle issued to me and it's like whatever. I don't really care right now I just wanna get training done and over with. I hate it. So I just got done talking to a completely different DS and shit about if I am going be able to come home or not and he pretty much told me he doesn't know but we looked at my contact and I am not doing Hometown recruiting now unless SGT Dickson can pull some string or something but I dk. I think you should give him a call still but don't even worry about the ticket I guess unless Sgt Dickson can 100% garantee that he got me in to htr. but if I do get some time before my next duty station or what ever then I will just buy a ticket at the airport or trainstation. what ever is cheaper. And that time will come out of my leave which I am cool with I guess. I dk I shouldn't even be worrying about all this on day 3 cuz I got like 96 more days to go. I just wanna come home when I can. I guess that I am homesick and it really sucks bad. I'm just not used to anything about this place but shit will get way better after this training. As long as I keep telling myself that then I should be fine. Plus I am getting paid for all this shit and well so that always nice to think about. I just hope I get a nice duty station somewhere and it better not be in f-ing Georgia. I know how to take my rifle apart and put it back together now. I thought it was awesome. I constantly get reminded of Forest Gump here. I wanna watch that movie now. How are the puppies? Getting big I bet. I wish I could see them again. I hope I get to call you soon. I don't get many calls these first few weeks or so if I get any at all. I'm so tired. I just wanna sleep for a couple of days. Eat some good food for once. I would kill for some Fatty Patty's right now like just getting that real bacon. My mouth is just watering. I miss Fritz. haha shit I miss just about everything about home. Hopefully I. will be able to make my own home after all this. At least something temporally while I'm in the army. I wanna try to get my own apt or something if not at least my own room somewhere. I hate these barracks and staff. Trying to tolerate all these people and just everything. It's just a lot of work. I wish time would just fly by while I'm here. So I just got done eating dinner chow and such and lately today I have been carrying around two M-4's cuz of my crippled battle buddy. I think I get to call you tonight. I hope so. :) I will let you know.. Ahh it was so nice to talk to you mom. That just made me so happy. I got a couple tears of joy from it. I don't care if it was mainly only long enough to give you the address it was just so nice to hear your voice tho. I can't wait to call you again. Or even get some mail from you. I hope it doesn't take to long. There was so much more I wanted to tell you. By the way the other Smith here says hi. I think there are 7 of us in the company but only me and another in this platoon. Well I can't wait to hear from you in some sort of way again.

Love ya Love ya
Jeremiah

:)

RECEIVED AUGUST 19TH 2009

15 Aug 09

So it is day 2 at basic so far and it doesn't seem so bad yet. Tomorrow we all get our weapons issued to us. Today I saw one dude pass out from the heat but that was his own fault because he didn't tell anyone that he wasn't feeling good or anything and yeah he went away in the ambulance and got stripped and had a thermostat shoved up his ass. Then at dinner chow as I was leaving I saw a kid choke and a D.S. run up to him. Needless to say that I have had an interesting time here so far. And I am even more excited to have you write me back. Anywho I have been thinking and if you are ok with it you should just put your house address on my profile cuz if people don't address the envelope right then I will get f-d hard. And you could just send them in your letters. Just keep them in the envelope so I have an address to write back to and stuff. Also when you do put it on my profile and you type WRITE ME put an IN BOOT CAMP after that. If you don't remember how to put it on myspace profile then ask Mike how to do it. Just make sure you use the codes I emailed to you. And that it goes in the general section. So how have you been? I miss you lots. And Fritz. It seems like it has been a really long time since I have been back on the West coast but I graduate on November 20th. I dk if you wanna come. I just think that I just wanna get the f outta here asap. I hate the weather right now. I might need you to book me a ticket in advance cuz I dk if the army will buy one for me again. And with thanksgiving being around that time. It might be hella exensive so I wanna get it early. I need to talk to my D.S. about that. But I did get you a present and Im sure that you will like it :). I have finally been getting some MRE's and it is nice. But I also got another vest like the ones we have at ome but they are digi-camo of course haha. Lots of accessories and I got a helmet. So has that fine thing come yet. I'm sorry bout that. It was all just a big mix up. The lady wanted to let me go but she had to do all that shit. Oh well it isn't anything major at all. My battle buddy (bunk buddy) really hurt his back so I kinda have to do more work and stuff. The basis of all that is to pretty much be joined at the hip. So here is the main thing you need to do to the envelope. Make sure you remember otherwise I get fd circle 4 on the back of it.
Well I will write ya tomorrow write me back finally.
I just talked to my DS about the plane ticket and he said I will have to buy my own ticket. So yeah if I don't call you before you get this then I need you to call my recruiter SGT Dickson he should know about this. But call SGT Dickson and ask him about two things. 1. the plane ticket situation. 2. If I am signed up for or he can gurantee or request me to do something called home town recruiting or H-rap after graduation. But if you could get a ticket if I need one that would be cool.
Love js

RECEIVED AUGUST 19TH 2009

12 Aug 09

Mom-
Wow well I thought we were pumped yesterday for training, tonight is just crazy. There is just so much chaos going on. It's kinda funny but scary cuz some of the shit could get X us into trouble especially so close to training. I just don't want to have that taken away from me. But one more full day to go then I leave friday morning at 0900 and head to the site. Tomorrow we finally get to do some PT. Which i dk why but I am excited for that. It will be the first time in a long time that I will get to run and all that shit. I don't think its going to be a far distance but mainly show people the pace that we are going to be running from now on for a couple weeks. But it is going to speed up eventually. Pretty soon here you are going to be able to write me back. Actually I don't think that I am going to send this letter till I get to basic and you can write back.

RECEIVED AUGUST 19TH 2009

From Mom, August 18th, 2009

Hello my Fav--Me feet hurt today, do yours? My knees a little also. So are we having fun yet? I hope that you let me know how long it takes for my letters to get to you, Wes thinks it may by 5 days. It takes 3 days to get one from you. I checked the weather forecast and it looks like your going to have rain or thunder showers. I wonder if the will help with the high temperatures or if the added humidity will just make it worse. I don't imagine that it will be all that great to be out in the weather learning how to stand in line and march. We are suppose to have record high temps tomorrow, close to 100. I stopped by Grandma and Grandpa's today on the way home from work to give them your address. They weren't home so I had to write it out real big on a piece of paper I grabbed from their printer. The Weather Channel just said it was 75 degrees and 65% humidity. That's just about perfect, except that it's 11pm. So anyways, you should be getting letters for sure from Tammy and Grandma. Hey guess what? Mike is moving back into my barn. He had kind of moved back with Ann. I wonder when he is going to get it that Ann is not committed to having a permanent relationship with the guy she claims as her babies daddy. I hope he gets a job soon, like long haul. We lost one of the small chocolate boys today. He was just too frail and we had been trying extra feedings, but he just wasn't gaining weight like he should have. Made it a sad day for us. Wes' parents are splitting up. I think Wes is in shock about it. But I'm not surprised, his dad is in jail (think about why) and looks like he is going to be there for awhile. Fran needs to take care of herself and finally do herself some good. So once she gets loose ends tied up here she will be living in Oklahoma or maybe Hawaii. I think OK would be better, she won't have a lot of money and the cost of living is a lot lower there. Miss Carol is there, her best friend from Kennewich. Well enough said. I sure hope the next time I talk to you we will have more time to catch up. Remember just to do the best that you can and stay focused on your goal. Let me know if you need anything. Love you. Mom

From Mom, August 17, 2009

My Favorite-

It is late at night and I'm starting another letter to you. It is Monday, so another day at work which went pretty quietly. I'm currently leaning to the side with the laptop next to me on a pillow. Normally I would be the computer in front of me on my lap, but currently that space is occupied by Fritz. The temperature has warmed up again and was close to 95 degrees. It affects the puppies. Went we got home they were acting all lethargic, one in particular seems to not be doing so well. I held him for a while tonight to try to force feed him broth. Hopefully he perks up soon. 11 puppies is a lot for one mom. Gretchen gets as much food as she wants right now because now is when she enters the time when the puppies are growing and demanding more from her. We gave them puppy gravy tonight. I had Gretchen in Hiedi's crate with a few of the smaller puppies while the bigger ones checked out the gravy. Then added the smaller ones so they could get a taste too. I took Fritz, Dutch and Emma for a nice long walk tonight. I kept them all on one side while I carried a broom stick in my right hand. I had the pole to tap them back into place when they tried to pull ahead. Then I took Sadie around the block by herself, she didn't have her tail up for reasons I don't know. She has trust issues and actually prefers her crate. She hasn't snapped at any of the other dogs in a longtime. For awhile Emma wouldn't go near her. I posted you address on your space and also Emailed it to John, James, Tammy and Shirley. So hopefully you'll get letters from someone beside me, I'm sure I'll be repeat myself and become a bore soon. I actually watched the Weather Channel to night to check the progress of the first three tropical storms of the season, just to see if you where going to be affected by them. I'm tired and I got to get up earlier tomorrow because Wes has an early appointment and I decided that it would be better for me to go to work early then to go afterwards. I will write you later, I love you so much and miss having you around to chat with. Take care of yourself.

Love mom

From Mom, August 16, 2009

Hello My Fav-

I was so totally expecting your call today. I had just finished up with some one who came to visit her puppy and was walking to where I laid down my phone and it started ringing. Or, should I say singing. I believe it takes three days to get a letter from you to me. Wes says that it may take longer for one from me to reach you. Hopefully it isn't too long. Anyways it was really great to answer the phone and hear you say "Haaayyyy" I had to go thru that 2 minute thing when Mike went in. I hope I sent you enough stamps to keep you supplied for a few days. I've been keeping Mike busy this weekend. He needed some cash so I told him that I would pay him if he did some work for me. Wes and I went to the HD with that monster of a truck and got enough wood to finish the fence project in the back, I don't remember if I told you that or not already. So anyways, Saturday I went and got Mike and lil boy Theo and we cleaned up the weeds and dog poo in the backyard. Mike used the weedeater along the back fence and I used a shovel to remove lumps of grass that were growing in the gravel pathways and coming up between the pavers. Theo had Mike's folding Military shovel, it was just his size, so he could help out too. Theo works for chicken nuggets, :) Later when I took them home Fritz sat in the back next to Theo's carseat. Sunday, today, I picked the two of them up and we went to the HD and purchased 100 more pavers to extend the current pathways that we got going last year. I had Mike pile them up in the garden area for now, I need to smooth out the pathways before I put them in place. I made Wes help me dog ear the fence boards and Mike nailed them in place. Theo and Mike took a nap on my bed while the lady came and played with her puppy. I'm hoping the have the remaining pathways paved to help cut down on the muddy dog issue we have in the winter. I need to find some kind of plant to plant in the flower beds that can take the abuse from the dogs. Mike has an interview tomorrow at the same place tomorrow that for some reason that lady didn't show up for. He still wants to do long haul. I figure that I better use Mike while I can before he starts working and won't have time for me. I've been watching the tropical storm watches going on in the Atlantice Ocean. Then I had to check with mapquest to see exactly where is it that your based. It looks to me that you may be far enough inland that you may only see heavy rain and strong winds. Storms seem to weakend once they hit land fall. Right now there are three storms brewing. I wonder if your area gets hit hard if you guys will be called on to help to some clean up work. I know that most of the time the National Guard is put to work, but you never know. I took Fritz, Dutch and Emma for a two mile walk today. I need to walk them more than I seem to be able to do. They are ending up in their crates a lot more than I want them to be. I wish the neighbors would just piss off. I worked outside all weekend and I had the dogs out in their kennel most of the time. There were dogs going off all around the neighborhood, especially Precious going constantly. Our dogs aren't anywhere near that level of barking. I sure hope that friend of Dan and Christina's goes to live somewhere else if he bails out of the Army. I'm not even sure of who is actually living next door. I never see Christina and I can't even remember when the last time it was that I saw her. I saw Dan today mowing the yard and spraying paper wasp nests on his front porch. That was the first time I've seen him in a few weeks. Oh well, anyways. I'm looking forward to hearing all about the training your doing. Time is going by, it's been two weeks now. I was thinking the other day about Forest Gump and I've come to the conclusion that of the two of them, Bubba was smarter than Forest. After all Bubba had a plan and could tell you what it was that he needed to realize his plan, while Forest was like that feather getting blown about here and there by the breeze.I love you and I'm proud of what you're doing. Remember to do more listening than speaking. Keep your shoulders back, chest out and eyes forward. Don't forget to answer every question with "Yes! Drill Sargent!" :) Love Mom

11 Aug 2009

Mom-
God so finally I am just steps away from leaving this place and going to training. The Sergants like to call it going down range. But today we packed up just about every piece of thing that we have and packed up the shit in our duffel bags and locked it up. I'm excited. Time is supposed to fly back when we get down there to. Thursday we are supposed to get our civi bags and stuff back and if I do then I am going to be calling you. Well I am gong to be calling a lot of people and texting and shit but yeah. People are just pumped here. Last night our section of the barracks which is Warloads West almost got into this XXXX gangland type fight with Warlords East. It was pretty intense. I was all jumping around like I do and shit and some big guys from my side had to keep pushing me back. I can't wait to get done with this training to get back. I hate the weather here. I need the Washington weather back. I think its just the humidity that is getting to me. I have no idea tho. I think I can stand the desert because that's dry heat and yeah even tho its extreme heat its still dry. I dk. Im still just excited to be going to XXXX training finally. Thats where we finally get to do some actual fun stuff like shooting and blowing shit up and learning cool stuff and excerising and just actually doing things and also the fact that I will be able to receive letters back from you and everyone. I can't wait FUN SHIT! Haha. Today there was a pretty awesome thunder storm and we just got done with chow and we were all standing outside waiting for the D.S. and yeah I just look up and I saw the clouds move in front of the sun. Then the rain came down then the lightning was pretty close and just awesome but that only lasted for like 20 min and then the sun came out for a thirsty revenge. It kinda sucked but yeah that was prolly the only thing that I like about this weather here was the spontaneous change. My feet are getting better and shit. I can finally see my foot bones and the swelling has gone down. I still have sore kankles. I dk. I just think things start going by fast amd start looking up. So I guess that if you can make it past the first week of training everything is going to be pretty laid back so I think that I might have a high chance of completing this, I mean everyone has their doubts and I try not to have mine but its hard to do ya know. I try to keep an opptemisstic state of mind. Things that happen are just I don't know. Like when people fucks up or are just fucking retarded I try my best just to let that stuff go but I can't do much about it. Theres a couple that I just wanna beat some sense into. But its the people that I kinda connect with like some of them are well a lot of them are from or closer to the west coast but I don't see how that should make that much of a difference like maturity and intelligence but at the same time when I think about it, it kinda all just makes sense. I'm just gonna try to keep my cool and take the punishment for their mistakes. Eventually all I can do is hope that they will learn and grow up and learn . This guy here that is intolerable is 24 and seriously should still be 14 or 15 from the central south of the country or something. I hope he is not in the same platoon as me. I don't get how someone can be that far behind and stuff. Well who knows I am just go with what I get. I miss you mom. I miss my lame life were I didn't really do anything. Some guy in our barracks had his B-day today and we made him do 38 push ups and then we sang to him. He is oriental and kinda keeps to himself most of the time. I have made small talk with him a couple of times but I think us doing that for him really helped. Definately made me smile. That and this kids well not kids but yeah were having a bible study and I stand behind one in formation and I know he is completely religious and I was talking to him about the group and how it must be nice to have a little bit of home like that and yeah I think he knows now that I may fuck around and shit but I can be really nice and shit cuz yeah. I give good chi flo. haha. Well I dk I will write another time when I get to basic and shit and all that cuz my hand is getting pretty tired now.

RECEIVED AUGUST 14TH, 2009

From mom, August 12, 2009

My favorite,

It sure has been quiet around here since you left. Something was missing for about the first week and I had been in a foul state of mind. It had continued to be hotter than normal. I miss you being around and talking to you. It was so great to get your phone call Saturday and to hear that I could expect letters in the mail. I felt so much better afterwards. I was busy all Sunday with three different families coming over to see the puppies. The last poodle girl sold and went home Tuesday and a couple put a deposit down on the largest chocolate boy. I have people coming both Thursday and Friday nights to look. It is nice not having to go to work at Home Depot at night anymore, I was tired of being tired all the time and never having any energy to get anything done when I was home. Two jobs is one too many. Wes is still being Wes. Someone pulled out in front of him when he was coming home from the store, their fault. So the Kia got a little bit of damage and is now in the shop getting the front bumper, right fender, and right light all replaced. Oh and the right front tire too. We have a loaner, a F150 four door. Big gas eater that's for sure, it uses twice as much gas as the Kia. Mike passed and got his CDL and has a job interview with a company that contracts with the US postal service to drive trucks of mail from on place to another. The little boys are doing well. Get this. Ann, I guess has bad or weak teeth, an inherited problem, and anyways she bit down on a piece of pizza and one broke off. One in front! She needs to get to a dentist and get it capped. Grandma and Grandpa ask about you all the time and were happy to hear that you called and I receive letters from you. They are doing well and happy that is has finally drop in temperature around here. Your feet are swollen because you aren't used to the heat and your body's blood vessels have expanded so that you are retaining water. Best thing of course is to drink as much water as you can and piss as often as you can to help your body flush excess salts and such that is causing the water retention. By the time you get my letter your feet should be adjusting. I think, even though it has been a pain in the ass, it is better that you didn't start basic the minute you stepped off the bus. With all the shots and new equipment at least your body has some chance of adjusting before you really start with the physical training. I love you and miss you. You and I are so alike in many ways. I can't wait to hear how training is going. I know that you will excel at this. You are strong and determined and focused. Remember not to second guess your decision to enlist, it was a good choice for you. Right now you are looking from the bottom of a tall steep mountain to it's peak knowing that somehow you need to/have to get to the top of this great mountain. Just take it a step at a time, one after another, you'll get there before you know it. Success beings with just one step. I am so proud of you always. Your my favorite after all.

Love Mom

PS the dogs miss you. Fritz rolled off my bed while sleeping while I wrote this. Haha! Sadie missed the nice long talks you two shared.

09 Aug 2009

Mom-
so I went to the doc cuz my drill sergant told me I should and the docX told me that I have something called heat adema. My feet were getting kinda bad but they are getting better kind. Doc said I should be back to normal before I leave for training. Which should be friday or XXXXXX thursday Im pretty excited. Tomorrow I guess I'm getting more shots which really sucks. I'm soooo done with shots and all this processing. People are trying to quit already and some are having real bad problems from home and shit too. I feel bad for them. I can't waith to call you again or at least have you XXXXXX write me. Sorry I keep messing up but I don't think that you really care. At least there isn't any teardrops on it like Mikes haha. How is that brother of mine doing. I hope he finished his school and can get a good job and stuff. Wel they are taking the XXX mail soon and then I'm gonna get to bed. I love ya mom. I can't wait to get this done and come back to see you.

Love
Jeremiah

PS Give Fritz a hug for me.

RECEIVED AUGUST 12TH, 2009

08 Aug 2009

Mom.
Well first of all my feet hurt. BAD They are all swollen and shit then I got my boots yesturday whick sucks cuz if they weren't swollen I would be able to enjoy them. Other than that I am pretty sure that I am going to call you tomorrow since we can do that on Sundays. I think. I can't wait to get to training, thats where the fun starts. :) So I just found out that one of Dan and Christina's roommates is quitting. He just doesn't like it or something. All I know is I already got my head shaved so it's a little late to turn back now. Haha. Plus if I were to quit I would owe them some money and they would take away all my cool shit. The drill sargent told us that infantry men have the best job. They shoot things, blow shit up, drink beer, and have sex with girls. Haha. I thought that was pretty funny. But the main thing is that everything will get so much better after training. That's what I keep telling myself. Because I know it has to be close to if not true. Haha. I just hope I can make it. I can't wait to get letters from you. I'm sure you will be able to talk some sense and stuff to help my head and such. The thing is, is that I don't know how long it takes for letters to get to ya and such. Hopefully it isn't too long cuz I wanna be able to hold actual conversations with you. I just found out that we get a phone call today so Im going to be calling you I think. I am trying to get used to the weather here. I found out that it's no the heat but the humidity that is getting to people. That and the food from chow. Today I saw a mouse run across the kitchen floor. I'm hoping that I will go to a different chow hall when I get to my training. The food isn't even that great which sucks. And I almost puked when I was eating last night. But I think that had to do with one of the shots. But the chills weren't to bad for the heat haha. So I just called and talked to you for the first time since I been here. I write these letters at different time during the day so yeah. Some dudes just came in and talked to us and they graduate pretty soon. Its funny cuz they said the worst part of the whole thing is what we are goin through right now. I thought that was pretty funny. That and they said time really flys by when you are actually doing training and all that stuff. It kind just made me more excited for it and stuff. This guy and me are leaning up against each other like bubba and forrest :)

RECEIVED AUGUST 12TH 2009

07 Aug 2009

Madre-
Hey how are you! Good I hope. I am in a hall waiting to get my military ID and I just got another shot. I think this one was a TB. So I think that if I remember correctly you should be going to your last night at Home Depot. Congrats. I wish you could come to my graduation. I know you would like to. But then I don't mind being by myself. Girls like a man in uniform. Haha. Just please pick me up at the airport when I get back. Thats just how we do things :) that and I wanna ask if I can use the truck during the time that I get back. I'm gonna prolly be doing hometown recruiting and I will need transportation I think I will only be back for two weeks anyways. So I think Im gonna be giving you a call on Sunday. Most likely be before you get these letters. I got most of my equipment and stuff tho. The camos don't really help with the weather. The one thing I don't have yet is my boots which I think I am getting later today. I miss Fritz. Haha. Surprising I know. Some people here are just suprisingly retarded. But I still aint trying to start stuff. I can't wait to be able to sleep as long as I want. It will be super nice. Its gonna be like hibernation. I just don't know where I am going to stay when I get done but I think I am just wing it haha. Its more fun that way and it is what I am used to. Unfortunately you still can't write me back but you will be able to write me once I put a return address on the envelope I believe. I hope you remember how to put it on my profile. I just had my picture taken for my ID. Things go by fast here sometimes but most of the time you are just waiting around. The sargents call it the hurry up and wait system. So they don't really use canteens anymore. They started with the camel backs. Just a aqua backpack. Its pretty cool. Its digi-camo also which I think you'd like it haha. Well I will write you another letter tomorrow or something. The problem with writing you everyday is that I don't get to go to the PX often so I could run out of stamps unless you want to send me some. :)

Love you Mommy.
Jeremiah.

PS Do you want photos? To be honest I don't want anything more to do with this place. But you don't have to cuz I got you a present. Think about it.

RECEIVED AUGUST 10TH, 2009

06 Aug 2009

Dear Mom
Hey, so I still haven't gotten to basic yet. I'm in reception still gettin completely processed. It's fine tho, kinda like pre-basic. I don't feel homesick at all but there are some things I miss tho. Like you, I miss being able to talk to you. I miss the dogs. Just small things. Mainly the same things that make me laugh. Its fun with some people but I feel like my humor isn't here. With almost everyone. Unfortunately you cannot write me back because like I said I am not basic yet. I got my shots today. Everyone was complaining about the one in the ass. I took it like a champ. Shit didn't hurt. Haha. The people that I came on the plane with are like my only friends here. But I am sure that I might make more I actually get to basic. Mostly f-in hicks. Which I should be used to since the BG is where we live. But I'm not trying to start shit. Ya know. I gotta go to bed soon but I'm gonna keep writing you and I will let you know when you can write back.
I love you,
Jeremiah.

RECEIVED AUGUST 10TH 2009