To My Fans:

Well. . . can we say "interesting"? I never expected OCS to be easy or even enjoyable, but it is FAR worse than I ever imagined. Please, don't be worried. It's just a LOT different than I expected.

Just to give you a little more insight. . . IT SUCKS!!!

Nothing is unbearable, just frustrating and irritating. So far I'm keeping up, but it does require a LOT of short nights. I think I slept 3 hours last night.

But don't think I've quit smiling. I just have to keep it under wraps. There was a time an instructor tried to correct a candidate. . . When we mess up in giving orders the proper statement to correct yourself is, "as you were". . . meaning back to the start and begin again. One of the candidates messed up and the instructor told him to say "as you were" so he could start again. In typical nervous fashion the kid responded, "As I was." So the instructor again said, "As you were!" He repeated, "As I was!" So the instructor said "NO, as you WERE!" And still the kid bellowed, "AS I WAS!" In traditional fashion, the instructor stepped closer and spoke louder. "NO! AS YOU WERE!" Because we are often corrected for not being loud enough, again the kid misunderstood and focused efforts on an even louder, "AS I WAS!" Let me tell you, the 10th time is just as funny as the first!

For those wondering, overall the food is good. We just don't get very much and only 3 meals per day. To help, I have started eating the occasional sweet. I'm already maxing my other options (sometimes 3-4 fruits at 1 meal). Today for instance I had two small cookies with lunch. . . think ginger snaps.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Fishpotamus

PS: For those of you desiring Fish's address, he has not yet shared that information. When/if he does, I will discreetly pass it on.

Dear,

I don't have a lot of time but wanted to say hello. Things here are moving FAST- well not time, but all else. I can now eat a full meal in less than 4 minutes. My showers are sometimes so fast that the water can't even catch me. Having no hair makes that easier.

On a more serious note, things are settling in. It's really not a fun place, but there's a good reason for that. They are turning up the pressure on us. I can only do my best.

Keep in touch,

Fishapottamus.

Now sing the Brady Bunch theme song.

And fo'real-- What day is it?!

Date: Unknown, Time: It's Dark

To my loving fans,
I suspect the fan club is already set-up and membership is rapidly increasing. Life here is interesting. They tell me it has only been a week. I can’t really say as I have lost all track of time. I had to ask and trust others today in the wild belief that it is Friday.

While I realize there are probably many questions, I still don’t know that I can answer them. There are large men here who are hard of hearing and have poor eye sight. Thankfully, they have good hygiene and their breath and BO aren’t bad because they stand very close to us all the time. And just in case you are curious, they didn’t lose those senses to age. They are not very old and are in no way feeble.

Being that I am in school, I have learned a lot. Did you know that more than one person can use a urinal at the same time and if you have wide enough stalls (without doors), three people can? Also, there is a much more efficient way to take a shower. It’s called a wagon wheel, but I’ll save that for later.

I must go for now as there is lots to still do. We average 20-22 hours a day with no down-time.

Miss you all.

I’ll try to figure out my address. I had a few things ready to go out, but that was before pick-up. . . that was the day we met our friendly teachers. They let us play this fun game called toss our stuff. While it was fun, I don’t recommend playing it with 60 people. I think Hasbro actually put 4-6 players on the box. Maybe I’ll eventually get my stuff back. . .

Future thoughts:
2 minute meals
Sharing towels
I usually wear a large but his small fit fine.
Whose toothbrush was that?

it's time

The time is finally here. Thank-you all for your well wishes and support. I feel prepared, but not everything is in my control. I will do my best and hope that is good enough. I hope to see you on the other side . . .

Why? . . . an answer

The question I get asked most . . . Why? or as YJ said, "are you an idiot?" . . . and yes, it was in jest . . . but the real reason, I'm not going to say. It's personal. I will say this. I have a friend. Let's call her . . . aUSA (real person but fake initials--remember to keep it all anonymous--don't use my name ) . . . She gave me a card one day with this quote, "be the change you wish to see in the world." I don't know much (and yes, you can quote me on that), but I do know that I don't understand why . . . why we are here, why we have pain and suffering, why we laugh and cry at the same time, why I can't roll my r's when I say 'ruffles have ridges' . . . but I do know we could have more if everyone just tried to be the changes needed in this world. So, I want to be part of the change. You may not agree with my method, but that's your right, and as such, be the change you wish to see in this world.

2-days

I can't say I'm nervous, but I can't say that I'm not. Here it is 2 days until I leave and I've been up since 2am (0200). What started as just me waking up turned into laundry, emails, and work. Then, at 4:30am (0430), I was up and getting ready for work. I won't call it nerves . . . early prep and training . . .



I also know that it was weird today trying to finish up and tie off loose ends at work . . . . more tying tomorrow I guess . . . you never really know until it's time to change, but I have a lot of family here.

3-days

Only 3 days until I leave . . . .