So I've made it through Basic Training for the U.S. Army and now I'm in AIT(Advanced Individual Training) in Fort Lee, Virginia. I fucking hate it here by the way. I want so fucking badly to go home. There is no fucking way out of here other than to fuck up horribly or to do drugs or to get pregnant. All of which I'm so not into. I'm just ready to go home so very badly that it's an almost physical pain. It's terrible when I wake up in bed all alone and miles away from home and my boyfriend. I miss my home. I miss normal life. I miss working for a living instead of just sitting around cleaning fucking barracks or going to fucking school all damn day.

Ladies and gentlemen, there's a new trend sweeping Louisiana. It may have already begun engulf other states as well. If it hasn't reached your beloved town yet, trust me, it will. Eventually. There's no stopping a force so great.



Experts are already looking for a bigger boom in it in the upcoming year. You may be asking yourself "What is this trend that you're speaking of as if it were some sort of plague?" I'd be very glad to tell you all about it. It's marriage folks.



Now before you flip your wig let me explain my reasoning.



Marriage is a wonderful thing to join into if you've known each other long enough, if you're mature enough, if you've discussed it with great severity. It's not something to enter into lightly and it's something that the faint-hearted should avoid at all coasts. I'm not some kind of marriage-hater. No, I'm something much more dangerous. A 19-year-old girl with in possession of a brain and very firm beliefs.



Today's young people have completely lost their minds. They meet a guy (or girl) and within a month's time they want to get married. Why? No one really knows why to tell you the truth. They just do it.



Everywhere I turn I hear the words 'engagement' or 'marriage' popping up. It's insane! What's wrong with dating for a few year, getting to know one another, maybe even living together for a while, and then discussing the idea of marriage? What's the big attraction with being married at our age?



Apparently I missed the little pink fliers on cars telling people to hurry up and get married.



It is my firm belief that anyone under the age of 23 (and sometimes even this is too young) should not be allowed to enter into such a huge commitment as marriage. We don't know what we want. We don't know who we are. If we don't know who we are then we sure as shit don't know who are partner is. How can one marry someone that they know so little about? At our age, everyone is in love. Some people fall in love four or five times a week. Hmmmm. Doesn't sound like a promising start for some of the people in our generation.



In your early twenties you should be out having fun and finding out what you want out of life. You shouldn't be tying yourself down with something as serious as marriage.



As for me, I know for a fact that I'm not getting married any time soon. I do have a boyfriend and I know for a fact that I love him very much. However, we are by no means ready to get married so young (I'm 19 and he's 21). I'm going into the Army and I'm going to see the world. I'm going to get my life straightened out and do a little growing up. I'm going to find out if having a life with my boyfriend is even what I really and truly want.



I don't think that this is a cruel thing. I think it's probably the smartest thing I could do.



Most people who jump to getting married end up living with one set of parents for some amount of time. I've done that before. I lived with my ex-boyfriend, his mother, and his little sister for eight months. In those eight months I learned that he defiantly wasn't the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. With the guy I'm with now I've decided to try a different approach. A long distance relationship. Edgy, huh?



Now there are a lot of people out there saying that we won't work out b/c long distance relationships never work out. To that I simply say 'bull shit!' How do I know this you ask? I know this b/c I have a very good friend who's in a long distant relationship right now. I've recently met the young man and I think he's the best thing that could have happened to my friend. They are so much in love that it is nearly sickening. I love them both to death but to see them together is like watching a couple that's been married for fifty years and have enjoyed every minute of it.



They shared their thoughts on marriage as well and they think the same thing I do. To marry so young is just plain stupid. It's a big waste of time really. They both want to establish themselves as a composer (that's the guy) and an artist (that's the girl) and they don't think that getting married until those things are accomplished are a very good idea. Now they may get married before they do those things but somehow I don't see that happening. Both of them have very good heads on their shoulders.



I know. I've seen them.



So boys and girls which one are you? Are you the hipster? Or are the edgier one? The one actually in possession of a brain?



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I know that the journal entry I've just posted may make a few people angry but I really don't give a rat's ass. This is how I feel on the matter and there is no changing my mind about it. So if you're going to flame this post then feel free to do so. I'm as unwavering a stone wall. Nothing short of divine intervention is going to tear me down.

I did my PT Test yesterday to see if I could pass the test once I get to Basic Training. It consisted of 3 Push-ups, 17 Sit-ups, and to run a mile in 10 mins and 30 secs. I was so freaking nervous about running that damn mile. My recruiter came over and I went through my stretchs while he went down the road and marked of 1 mile. When he got back we went through the stretches again.

Then the fun started.

I did 20 push-ups in 1 minute, 29 sit-ups in 1 minute, and then it was time for the mile run.

They took me to the marked off point and it was time for the fun to begin. I stood there for like 2 mins in the hopes of putting off the run as long as possible. Finally, I took off.

About half-way through the run I started getting cramps in my stomach. My recruiter had warned me about that happening while we were riding to the mile-marker. I'd drank too much juice and water before they came over to keep off the threat of dehydration again. It heart soooooooooooooo bad!

Well, when I was a quarter of a way there my recruiter got out the car to run the rest of the way with me. His friend took over driving so he could help me finish up the run. That was pretty awesome of him. The run came to an end and I had to wait a few minutes before I could learn my time. I had to walk to cool my body down and stretch to keep my muscles from cramping up later.

When Corp. Mears pulled into the driveway and got out the car he handed the watch to Sgt. Stewart. Then the news came. I'd done my mile in 10 mins and 18 secs.

Lol! Not the greatest time in the world but I did it nonetheless. That made me realize that I really need to start running more. Starting tomorrow (due to the fact that my stomach is so fucking sore right now) I'm gonna run. I do need to get my time better. My little brother gave me some pointers on how to keep my breathing in control since that's my only problem. He gave me a few other pointers as well and I think that was sooooooo sweet of him. He did laugh at me when he found out my time but that's okay b/c I love my little bro.

Hey everyone! How's it going? I'm new here and I just want to say hello to my best friend and the greatest artist ever 'Archangelina'. She's always been here for me and I love her to death. She's like my sister. I'd take a freaking bullet for this girl. That's how strong our friendship is boys and girls.

Hope you'll write to me while I'm in Basic chickie!