DEATH FORCE 5000

I just got back from the field and have decided that I am in no way cut out for the ARMY. Good thing I joined the NAVY!!! The field is like bare bones camping without any fun. We get up at 5 and go to bed at 11 or 1 am. We work non stop and eat cold, prepackaged IMP meals that were made 4 years ago and look and taste like dog food. We never have any time to brush our hair, or bath so we use baby wipes to keep clean and our fire team partner is with us at all times... our Hootchies (basic tent - think 2 tarps attached together to form a small, small triangle tent) are awful and cold and we spend the entire week outside without any fire to keep warm.

You will all have to excuse me for my grammar as my mind has melted from the stress and lack of sleep. I'll try to list off what happened to us in the field so you can all understand...

Monday we arrived in the field. It was cold, and wet - alternating between raining and pouring all day - we worked hard doing all sorts of missions until about 1 am, meaning we had been awake and running around for 20 hours. It was COLD and we were all on the verge of hypothermia... it sucked big time... Tuesday was better weather wise, I had my assessment for my mission, which I passed - thank god!!!! But we worked hard all day and when we finally went to bed at 11:30 we were woken up at 12:30 with a fake fire alarm and the "bad guys" shooting at everyone in the camp... we all had to jump out of bed, get dressed in full combats with helmet, webbing, rifle etc and try to defend our camp.. then we were hauled out onto the road and screamed at for not doing well enough... GREAT TIMES!!! Wednesday was better still, we had a long day but luckily there was no raid in the night and we had a moment to nap in the afternoon. Thursday was stressful as the people who didn't pass their first attempt had to try again and it was tough to be enthusiastic and energetic as we were all quite worn out. Friday was the 7km rucksack march and obstacle course (affectionately names the DEATH FORCE 5000). The march was awful. The rucksacks were heavy, our boots were giving us blisters and the pace was fast, plus my rifle is getting rather tiresome to carry around... The obstacle course was suppose to be fun. Last week when we ran it we did so with only our combats and helmets, this time we had our rifle and webbing (belt type thing that goes around our waist and holds all sorts of goodies like magazine (think bullets) and canteen etc). Needless to say most of us were injured as it was hard to navigate 10 foot walls and 2 story cargo nets with all the equipment on us. I fell from a 12 foot wall and didn't hurt myself too much, I went over the cargo net and bruised the bejeezes out of my arms and legs, and also managed to slink along a rope suspended 20 ft in the air all without too much trouble.... However, when it came to doing the Tarzan rope I caught my heels on the 4 ft wall and fell on my ankle so I am now hobbling around like an idiot... My entire platoon is wondering who beat me up and my entire body is covered with enormous bruises that are quite disgusting... GREAT TIMES!!!

Now we are all running loose in Victoria trying to relax and prepare for the next phase... scary stuff I tell you!!!!

Alright, I know none of that made any sense but I'll try to re-iterate it sometime when my brain is not shut off.

Thanks for the good thoughts and letters.. As I am back at the base for a week I'll try to write back to everyone that sent letters..

Love you all!!!!

Naval Cadet Spencer (AKA Lady Spencer, aka Linda!!!)

HOLA!!!

I scammed more internet!!! YEAH!!!!

Lots of fun stuff is going on here... I learned that I can shoot a rifle quite well and that it isn't much fun... I also learned that I can now get dressed in full combats including boots and full fighting order (rifle, helmet, webbing, ammo etc... ) in less than 3 minutes... good times for all!!!

I've also met a kazillion new friends. most people here are wonderful, and we hang out 24/7 so that's a really good thing. Like Eleni posted I go in the field next week and that should be somewhat interesting... we'll see how I survive. But I should run, I've gotta run some errands. No pics as of yet, we JUST got our cameras back... bastards!!! anyhoo, love you all, we'll chat soon!!!!

LINDA ALERT!

Hey everyone.. I've been busy lately... lots of things going on in my life... but I got an e-mail from Linda that I needed to share!!

I"M HERE!!!!! I scammed internet for 1 minute so here I am...... basic is going well..... it's tough... I carry a rifle everywhere I go - even to the loo!!!! And I've discovered that I can shoot things form far away quite well....Next week we have war games in the bush.. should be fun cause I hate camping... miss you all oodles... YEAH!!!!!!

THANKS A MILLION LOVE, ME!!!!!

I'll share again if I hear more news!

Blog....

Hey guys.. I don't really have a Linda update. I'm not sure if anyone is even reading this...

Anyway.. I SUCK at blogging.. so, bear with me if you want to hear updates on Linda. I have lost her schedule... (or temporarily misplaced)... so I'm not really sure what she's been up to!! Yikes.. she's so going to kick me when she comes back.

If you want to send her mail at the base.. write a comment on here and I will e-mail you her mailing address.

Take care Linda fans!

E$

LINDA ALERT!!

Good afternoon everyone!

It has been a few days so I decided to update you all on Ms. Spencer. Linda had a rather quick sendoff, as rumour has it that she slept in for the airport!! She made it to Victoria on time though and is locked up in basic training!

She sent some texts out two nights ago saying that her phone was about to be taken away.. however last night she sent another text that no one was allowed to send her food. I am not quite sure if Linda just kept her cell phone.. or if they were not taken away... but she's maintained a link to the outside world!!

I will have to consult her schedule to let you all know what she is up to... but I'm sure she's very busy and having a great time! That's all for now!

E$

The end

Well ladies and gentlemen, this is the end - temporarily. I'm sitting in bed - in an empty room, in an empty apartment (except for Heather's things) exhausted, sad and nervous. Today was pretty awful, packing up my beloved Kensington Palace, saying goodbye to my friends - not fun.

I've had a few meltdowns, mostly while saying goodbye to people (I HATE goodbyes... they are horrifically awful!) and looking at my lovely Palace for the last time (see I'm getting teary eyed again... ) but I am getting through it and I will be okay, eventually. I know you must all think that I am quite the lunatic for being so upset about an apartment and a 3 month hiatus from my friends. But the fact of the matter is that this apartment, apart from being beautiful, perfectly located and renovated is what it represents to me - my Independence. Previous to being here I had a rough time and this apartment sort of proved to myself that I could do it alone and do it well. Now like anything, this apartment has it's faults... it floods a lot, it is COLD, it is expensive... but it is Kensington Palace and to quote several people "this is the end of an era". Not to mention the fact that Heather and I will no longer be roommates. I've tried really hard not to think about that one as it causes instant tears but I really can't ignore it any longer.

Heather and I, although roommates for almost 2 years, rarely spend any time together as we are always so busy. But when we do see each other we talk for hours and laugh a lot. It will be so different not to wonder when she'll be home next, or what funny stories she has to tell about her latest pairing... wow, this is quite the depressing post isn't it??? I don't really want to go on as this is pretty sad, but to say the least, I will miss her and as our schedules will continue to be busy I doubt we will have many 3 hour talk marathons in the future.

So that's it kids, I am done for a while. I am not sure that I will have access to this blog at all on base, but Eleni, I am sure, will be diligent in her posting and keeping you all informed on my activities.

Alright, I'm going to dry my eyes now and try to get some sleep. 5 am isn't far off!

LONG LONG overdue

So.. waaaaay back on the 12th of April (saturday) I had a very busy day. I started the day off very tired as the night before was Jamie's birthday celebration at Murietta's. I got to wear a sparkly dress, mingle with fun people and wish my new MBFF a very Happy Birthday! (pictures to follow).

The next day however I was up bright and early to attend some more Small Party Tasking stuff at the unit. I think it went well - I learned new leadership techniques, got paid for running around in the snow... had lunch with some of the guys (and Jamie) - good times.

After that though it was a race to get showered, get makeuped, do my hair in some sort of fashionable style, find an outfit for the ceremony and race over to the Palliser hotel. I arrived with plenty of time, got to sit in the lobby and look pretty and then got to take part in my very first Iranian Wedding Ceremony. The whole thing was in Farsi - a language I do not know save for a few phrases - but it was easy to understand the jyst of everything. After the amazing ceremony, Nazy looked heavenly by the way, I zipped home again to change for the reception. As the reception itself was to take place at the Palliser (my favourite hotel in Calgary), I needed a costume change. Back on went the dress from the night before (a faux pas I know, but meh... I can't be buying dresses for every day of the week now can I?). I also tried to redo the haior slightly and the makeup so as to be appropriate for the evening's festivites. My "date" (not really a date, but a friend) picked me up and we were off to wish the newlyweds well. Upon our arrival caused a bit of commotion as we descended the steps from the mezanine level to the foyer as my "date" was actually a Naval Officer in full dress uniform - and yes he had the hat with him. We said our hellos to the parents of the bride and to some others who I knew then took our seats for dinner. Dinner and speeches ensued and The whole evening was fun, we schmoozed, drank, and partied it up Persian style.

Later on after desert and dancing we jetted off to join our fellow Naval Comrades at the Mess dinner. When we got there they had been drinking for several hours so it was pretty fun once we arrived. We continued to party there and then it was time for home. My "date" drove me home and I went to bed exhausted, but ready for sunday morning.

So there we go, not a very good run down about Snoop's wedding but I am not doing so well with the writing this week... which I am sure you have all figured out.

K, gotta run and pack.. CIAO!

PS - pics to follow... I didn't take any so I need to steal some from facebook.

Hot damn... a party!!!

Hello everyone!!

It's COMBAT PARTY day!! Woo-hoo! I hope you can all dig yourselves out of your respective homes to join in the festivities! Remember... dress up and come out to have fun!

This is E-Money signing out...

PEACE!

HOT DAMN!!!

I just got a call from my unit and apparently the course that I was to do after Basic, the one where I get to hang out on a ship for a while has been changed and I now get to come home early!!!!

As it stood I was to have a week off in between IAP / BOTC and NETPO but now that week is gone and I get to come home a week early.....wicked!!!!!!

So look for me back in town the last week of July - I am so happy!!!

Book of the Week / Last Friday

So today is my very very last day at Job #1 - FNF Canada. it's sad, in a way, but great in a different way. I will be pleased to leave certain aspects of this job, as well as some people (can't be friends with everyone, can I?) but the worst part is that I have some friends that are really close to me and it will be awful not to see them everyday. Guest blogger E$ is one of them, Lanster is another, Scott and Crystal as well - what will I do without them I wonder?

I will also miss my desk... situated beside the beautiful window, with all that glorious sunshine... well not TODAY as it is snowing, but most days. Plus I do think I will also miss the fully stocked kitchen and Fat Friday celebrations.. and maybe even the witty banter that passes between the cubicles in the office... wow, that makes me quite sad. Well, that and the fact that I will be in Victoria in less than a week... YIKES!!!!

Ughhh, now I am feeling the stress.. OK - enough of that, onto the book...

Today I've picked a book I read a while ago, then I gave to Heather to take to S. America and read, which I assume she did... but anyhoo it's a good book, it's historical (of course), set in France (of course), and features strong female characters.. (of course). Basically it's right up my alley. The book itself is titled "Labyrith" and it is written by Kate Mosse. She also just released another one called "Sepulchre" which is along the same lines at the first book - but not connected so you may read them independently.

Here's what the Publishers have to say about it:
When Dr Alice Tanner discovers two skeletons during an archaeological dig in southern France, she unearths a link with a horrific and brutal past. But it's not just the sight of the shattered bones that makes her uneasy; there's an overwhelming sense of evil in the tomb that Alice finds hard to shake off, even in the bright French sunshine. Puzzled by the words carved inside the chamber, Alice has an uneasy feeling that she has disturbed something which was meant to remain hidden...Eight hundred …+ read more
When Dr Alice Tanner discovers two skeletons during an archaeological dig in southern France, she unearths a link with a horrific and brutal past. But it's not just the sight of the shattered bones that makes her uneasy; there's an overwhelming sense of evil in the tomb that Alice finds hard to shake off, even in the bright French sunshine. Puzzled by the words carved inside the chamber, Alice has an uneasy feeling that she has disturbed something which was meant to remain hidden...

Eight hundred years ago, on the night before a brutal civil war ripped apart Languedoc, a book was entrusted to Alais, a young herbalist and healer. Although she cannot understand the symbols and diagrams the book contains, Alais knows her destiny lies in protecting their secret, at all costs.
Skilfully blending the lives of two women divided by centuries but united by a common destiny, LABYRINTH is a powerful story steeped in the atmosphere and history of southern France.

Happy Reading!

Guest Blogger!

Well hello again Linda Spencer fans! :0)

E-Money is signing in. I have received some fun information today from the lady herself... She has obtained a daily schedule of what she will be going through this summer. I will keep you all up to date on the daily events of our beloved Naval Officer!

It seems as though Linda is in for some crazy 'fun' out there in Victoria! We all know she can do it.. and will kick butt!!

Two more days at FNF... it's really sad. Linda brought me to FNF... so it will be a bit weird without her there. Anyway.. it'll be a fun couple of days... SECOND GUESS THURSDAY and I DON'T CARE FRIDAY!! Woo-hoo

Anyway.. I'm off to blog some more..
TheGreekCowgirl.Blogspot.Com

Take care all ;0)

GEN. HILLIER'S FINAL FAREWELL STATEMENT

Message from the Chief of the Defence Staff to the Canadian Forces


OTTAWA – I have chosen to retire from the Canadian Forces and end my tenure as your Chief of the Defence Staff in July of this year.



I accepted the leadership of the Canadian Forces in February 2005. My goal was to set the conditions for our sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen to succeed in our critical and often dangerous tasks in defence of Canada, Canadians, and Canadian interests and values.



We have achieved those key objectives, and reached the critical milestones I originally set out for us to reach by the end of my time as CDS. We have moulded our culture to one which recognizes that operations are our raison d’être; that our efforts, all of them, must concentrate on achieving the missions and tasks given to us by the Government of Canada, on behalf of all Canadians.



We have transformed how we recruit, train, equip, command, deploy, employ, bring home, recognize and care for our operational forces and our families, focused on achieving a strategic effect for Canada. We have done so while growing the Canadian Forces, re-equipping it, and while carrying out intense combat and peace support operations overseas and demanding, essential security tasks here at home.



We have remembered how to grieve; to never forget our comrades and dear friends who have died in the service of Canada. Their sacrifice, and that of their families, deserves our unwavering commitment to ensure their loss is not in vain.



We have been strengthened, immensely, by the vocal and visible support of millions of Canadians who have demonstrated that they recognize, understand and honour your service, and the sacrifice of your families.



Leadership in the Canadian Forces is not the role of one single person; it is the responsibility of all who wear the Canadian Forces uniform. I believe you will now be best served by the invigoration of new leadership, with the vision, energy, and strength to lead you through the challenges that will lie ahead. For we have not finished evolving. We must continue to adapt, and improve our Forces to accomplish the tasks Canadians need us to perform in the complex, dangerous security environment before us.



It is with great confidence that I await the selection of the senior leader who will take my place. I will continue to serve as your CDS until relieved of my duties by my successor, to be named in due course by our Prime Minister.



My wife Joyce and I thank you for the rewarding years we have shared with you, and look forward to many years ahead as part of the Canadian Forces family.



You are Canada’s greatest credentials, our national treasures, and I am so very proud of you. It has been my honour and privilege to be your Chief of the Defence Staff.

US Navy vs Canada

Some Naval humour for you this fine Wednesday morning.

This is the transcript of the ACTUAL radioconversation of a U.S. naval ship with the Canadianauthorities off the coast of Newfoundland October 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations10-10-95.

Canadians: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the Southto avoid a collision.

Americans: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to theNorth.

Canadians: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again,divert YOUR course.

Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.

Americans: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN. THESECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES ATLANTICFLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, I SAY AGAIN,THAT'S ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.

Canadians: We are a lighthouse, your call.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Alright everyone - military training aside, today is a special day... it is the BIRTHDAY of my good friend Cynthia!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

Hope your day is super special... kiss my cutie Sam for me... and a big hug for Aaron as well

Guest Blogger!!

Good Morning!!

Guest blogger in the hiz-ouse!! Haha... anyway.. I just felt like signing in and letting you know that I will be 'taking over' for Linda in less than two weeks! Our girl is leaving us!

I hope I will see you all at the COMBAT PARTY!!

Take care!

E$

Hmmmmm

So I've been packing most of the day, apart from taking a small shopping trip to get my outfit for the Combat Party - which by the way I expect to be a gongshow. Anyhoo, so I've packed the car - pulled apart the kitchen, ripped apart the hall closet and pulled up the living room rug. Now I'm contemplating what to get for dinner and as I have no groceries I guess that means that I am ordering in... Vietnamese perhaps. I also think I should make a trip down to the south and empty the car, but I'm sitting here in my outfit for the aforementioned party and I don't think that wondering around in public is a good idea just now. I look rather military-esque and I might get some interesting glances. Tomorrow I think, will be the night to tackle my bedroom and rid it of any unnecessary clothing, which means most of it as I only have 12 days left... holy hell - that's not very much time is it...

I guess the point of this post, is that I am getting rather sad that my poor beautiful apartment is going to be lost to me very soon. Well, that and the fact that I cannot wait for the party! YEAH!!

Things to help me procrastinate with

After reading a friends blog, I've decided to also take the Meyer's Briggs Personality Test and see how I change after Basic. These are my results as of today:

Your Type is
ENFJ

Extraverted	Intuitive	Feeling	Judging
Strength of the preferences %
44	12	25	78

ENFJ type description by D.Keirsey
ENFJ Career Choices by Jung Career Indicator™
ENFJ type description by J. Butt and M.M. Heiss


Qualitative analysis of your type formula
You are:

• moderately expressed extravert
  
• slightly expressed intuitive personality
  
• moderately expressed feeling personality
  
• very expressed judging personality

Funny thing is that I was trying to convince my wedding date last night (At Snoop's Wedding... more about that later) that I was shy, painfully so.. I guess I was wrong.

Book of the Week

Alright so I had a huge plan to do Victoria Beckham's Book - "That Extra Half and Inch" as tonight is Jamie's (my new MBFF) Birthday Party, aptly named "Farewell to Feminity". Sadly I've discovered that I already featured that book in a previous Book of the Week. So now I'm stuck thinking about another book.

Oooh, just got an idea. As I mentioned, it was Jamie's birthday on Wednesday and her present was a book (of course) - so because I can't think of another Feminine type book to post I'll do the exact opposite... but really, knowing Jamie and I, it fits!

The book is "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu.

Here is what the publishers have to say:

Widely regarded as "The Oldest Military Treatise in the World," this landmark work covers principles of strategy, tactics, maneuvering, communication, and supplies; the use of terrain, fire, and the seasons of the year; the classification and utilization of spies; the treatment of soldiers, including captives, all have a modern ring to them.

And now from Wikipedia:

The Art of War is one of the oldest books on military strategy in the world. It is the first and one of the most successful works on strategy and has had a huge influence on Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, and beyond. Sun Tzu was the first to recognize the importance of positioning in strategy and that position is affected both by objective conditions in the physical environment and the subjective opinions of competitive actors in that environment. He taught that strategy was not planning in the sense of working through a to-do list, but rather that it requires quickly responding appropriately to changing conditions. Planning works in a controlled but competitive environment, and competing plans collide, creating situations that no one planned for.

Desperate Housewives

Guest Blogger???

So I'm leaving in 16 days and I although I do get my cell phone back after a few weeks I will probably be incommunicado as far as this blog goes... I am bringing my computer with me but because it is a Mac and it only takes wireless Internet, I might be SOL as far as email access goes.. plus I wouldn't be able to upload any pics at all. What to do, what to do....

So I've come up with a solution. I think you would all be entertained with the ramblings of one E Money (aka E$, aka Eleni). She's ridiculously funny, and I should know - I sit across from her at the office and she always entertains me! So there we go, she will be taking over for me while I am away, but I am sure she will post for you in case you have something you want to contribute... I'll let her do her own introduction when I go, but be sure to check back often.. you won't be disappointed!