Lost in the Woods Again After Some Time In Heaven

Hey Yall (notice what my time in Texas did to me? I've developed a drawl and say things like 'fixin to' and 'yall').  It has been quite awhile since my last post. So much for keeping up with my writing skills while in the Army right? Oh well, I'm writing now and that's all that matters. And...here...we...go.

Did someone say misery? Oh, my bad, Missouri. Ehh, anyone could make that mistake. I'm here in Fort Leonard Wood, but leave tomorrow for Fort Leavenworth, KS for in processing on Friday, then return to FLW that afternoon/evening. I just got here around four yesterday afternoon and they're already sending me away...Again, oh well, I get a chance to stop for barbecue in Kansas City on my way there or back.

Talked with my NCOIC today and he seems like a great guy. Definitely building the morale back up in the Veterinary Treatment Facility which apparently had been low, but it's changing and I can see that already. He's willing to work with me and my NCO to get me headed back to OCS in the near future as well as teach me as many things as he can in the mean time. That is what I was expecting out of the Army, so I'm excitedly (and surprised) optimistic about my time here in FLW again.

I was lucky to have gone straight to my hometown for a couple weeks of recruiting before heading back to the real Army. I did have to drive about 45 minutes to the office and then the same back every weekday I was home, and sit around, twiddling my thumbs, playing on my iPod, or reading my Kindle while I was there. I did end up talking a kid into an appointment over the phone while I was there. He sounded a lot like mean when I was first joining...all full of patriotic sense of duty and what not, but he had mentioned the Air National Guard being his first choice, so I had to push him towards the Army Reserves. I mean, he's got to have some pride right? I kid...kinda.

My family royally spoiled me while I was home with food and their awesomeness, even though they were gone for half of it on vacation in the Ozarks. My brother is still a smart ass traveler, my sister packed way too much for college, dad bit off a huge grain leg project on the farm, and mom works waaay too hard at the hospital than what she's paid to do. Life changes, but not much.

Grandma spoiled me with amazing food and company. She showed me how to play spite and malice the card game and whooped me when I thought I was winning. Unreal. A soldier can still learn from his grandma, especially about perseverance and strength when things aren't like they always were when grandpa was there.

I tried to save the best for last. Seriously, I almost brought her up in every paragraph so far. She's that big a part of my life. I'm talking about my lovely, brilliant, hilarious girlfriend. She visited me twice in San Antonio and for an entire eight days in Iowa (it seems very little but it was amazing). She's lifted my spirits more times than I can count when I was in the TRADOC suck, which is a very different kind of suck from deployment suck. She means a lot to me and I think she and everyone close to me knows it. I love that girl.

Anyways, that's my life lately in a nutshell. (Look, its me, in a giant case...I think it's a nut shell, where did a nut shell this big come from...) Alright, I'm done goofing off. SPC Hinkeldey, out.