It has only been a week and I am ready to come home. I can’t believe that I will be here for another 7 weeks!

It has gotten up to an un-Godly 105 degrees out here! I have to take 2 showers a day and it is not an option! I already have an class antagonist, an instructor that may have it out for me and some serious credit card debt (read: purchased 2 complete sets of ACU’s and another pair of boots so I could stay out of trouble). My day starts as early as 0420 and and could end as late as 1730 - before homework. I am getting used to chow hall food (YUMMY!) and not having my car may have been the biggest mistake I made. I have a great roommate and despite the one guy constantly giving me a hard time, I have made quite a few friends that I can depend on.
I am doing really good so far - I got a ‘GO’ on my Drill & Ceremony evaluation. Tomorrow, I have my PT eval and I get to lead the class in a discussion on Finances. Friday, I get evaluated on giving an information brief. I volunteered to be the Platoon Flag Detail NCOIC and we have our first detail on Sunday. Speaking of my platoon, I am in 3rd. I was in 3rd for BCT, too (OUTLAWS!!!!!). I think I was in 2nd for PLDC…If any of you have any cool platoon mottos, can you help a sista out? We are hurting for a decent platoon motto. Send your replies to nadia@williamandnadia.com and put PLT Motto in the subject line.
To say the least, I miss being home. I miss having all my comforts and most of all my Mr. Bear. I miss the girls keeping my feet warm at night and taking walks with Pooch. If you have been praying for me, keep it up. I need all the support I can get.

(This message sponsored by DSL…and yeah, I had to pay for it…)

So I have been home for almost 2 weeks and I have about 2 weeeks before I am gone for another 2 months. I don’t know how Will does it, but I have to say that I’m kinda used to it. Hopefully, things will slow down when I return.

Kansas this time around was much better. Being close to a college town helped a lot. If you are ever in Manhattan, go to a place called Silverado Saloon in Aggieville. They have dancing on Saturday nights with decent music. The first part of the evening is country dancing, but after 11pm, they play hip-hop and Top 40 music. They close at 2a, but kick you out at 1:40a. I don’t do the bar scene, but there are several to choose from.

For you religious types, there are several places of worship littered around town. On their main strip Poyntz Ave., there was no less than 6 different places between 4th and 17th Aves. Then additional places were located no more than 2 blocks from Poyntz. I guess after getting their drink on, the students needed to get their religion on given some of the things they may have done the night before.

Bottom line - if you are forced to be in Kansas for any reason, be sure to visit Manhattan.

So I am back in Kansas. Things are better this time around because we are staying in Manhattan (yes, there is a Manhattan in Kansas!!!) as opposed to Junction City (which in many ways is still a one horse town…Wal-Mart was the main attraction there!). We are within walking distance to the ‘mall’, there are more shopping plazas here, there is a Target in addition to the Wal-Mart and Kansas State University is within 5 miles of here. That is important because college towns tend to be filled with fun places like bars and pool halls! I also have my sister Athena with me so I am not that token black chick as in previous trips.

Today, I experienced my first tornado warning. The entire state was practically under a severe storm warning/tornado watch. The wind was fierce as it blew past the building. Around 1730, an alarm almost similar to a fire alarm went off indicating that the storm and possibly a tornado was coming. According to the reports, Manhattan was in the direct path of this storm. We all gathered into the hallway of the first floor and watched as the rain poured down and the wind howled. Ten minutes later, the alarms were turned off on the first floor, but remained on the 2nd and 3rd floor (where my room was). I ran upstairs briefly to get some ‘important things’: my GameBoy Micro, my DS, my GameCube games and memory cards, my wallet and my camera (leaving behind the 2 new Xbox 360’s that I purchased…CRAZY!!!). Twenty minutes later, the alarms were turned off on the 3rd floor and we were allowed to return to our rooms (I stayed in Athena’s room located on the first floor during that time).

It truly was an experience like no other. I know for a fact that I didn’t want to be where that tornado did touch down.

My trip this time is only 18 days compared to my 30 days last time. This is good because I get some time to spend with Will, my family and the girls before embarking on my 2 month stay in San Antonio, Texas, not to mention being able to make our annual pilgrimmage to the New York Auto Show!