One week down... ten to go

Hello all,

I can't belive that I have been here for a week already! I am slowly adjusting to the heat and humidity; let me tell you, air conditioning has never been such a treat! Otherwise, things are going well, and classes begin tomorrow... LT's, start your engines.

Reconnecting with some people that I met last summer in Washington and Hawaii has been awesome! While sampling the night life in San Antonio, a few girls and I stumbled upon a fun cowboy bar (actually, it is a dance hall with a bar), and we learned how to two-step! I was surprised how closely it resembles swing dancing and had a relatively easy time picking it up. It was really fun and we have decided to make it a regular stop. I never imagined that I would end up in a cowboy bar, let alone have so much fun!

I also went to the Alkaline Trio show this weekend as an early birthday present to myself. It was such a good show, I just wished they had played longer...

Well, that is about it for now. For traffic and weather information, tune your radios to 1610...

Finally here!! San Antonio, TX

Hello all!!

I made it to San Antonio on Saturday night and have been busy non-stop since yesterday morning! The drive was uneventful, but seemed longer than the previous two days. I guess I was just anxious to get to San Antonio, and was so tired of driving that the thought of getting in my car again was nauseating. Don't get me wrong, I love my new baby car, but after a while the travel gets old. During my first week here, I am staying in the lovely La Quinta Inn, and like all of the other La Quintas, it is right by the railroad tracks... not that it matters much when you are beat tired and sleep like I do.

Well, we have Physical Training dark and early, and then more in-processing tomorrow, so I am off to sleep...

LT Richert reporting for duty...

Las Cruces, NM

Bonjour a tous! Well, day two of my journey was just as interesting as day one...

Things I did (or happened to me) today:

-Spotted Sore Finger Road as I crossed the state line into Arizona. Just thought it was funny that someone would come up with that sort of a name for a road...

-Was tempted to buy a Sundance luxury home "starting in the 100,000's". The only problem... they are being built 50 miles outside of Phoenix.

-Was almost run off the road by a girl who did not seem the least bit concerned that she almost severely injured both of us, and then later, a school bus.

-Drove across an entire state. (I know, I know, but this is the first time I have ever done it.)

-Passed the exit for both the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility and the Fairgrounds... Don't pick up hitchikers on your way home from a day of fun at the fair!

-Crossed the Continental Divide (for those of you that don't know, it is nothing more than a sign with an elevation marker). Quite the disappointment for such a grand-sounding landmark.

-Crossed the Rio Grande

Las Cruces is a much bigger town, but you have to be an "early eater," because even on a date night, most restaurants pack it in by 9:30. Even the Dairy Queen was dark by 10:00 when I returned to the hotel.

Well, since it isn't quite time for Late Night, no Top Ten tonight... and I am terribly beat.

Ft. Sam or bust! On to San Antonio tomorrow...

Blythe, CA

Greetings from my first stop on the road to Ft. Sam. As I sit here super-sizing myself with a so-called "good for me salad" and fries from the Golden Arches, I reflect on the first ten hours of my new adventure. The drive from San Jose to Blythe was not as long as I expected it to be, and much more interesting than I thought it would be as well. A few things that struck me as being completely juxtaposed:

-The Pleasant Valley State Pennitentury on I-5. Hmmm...

-An Elementary school on Gun Club Road off of Hwy. 46. Double hmmm...

-A massive rose nursery on Hwy. 46. It made me feel as if I were on my way to see the Wizard of Oz. Quite a beautiful distraction in the midst of nothing.

-Oil derricks scattered through vineyards. Nature and destruction in harmony...

-Signs warning of possible bee activity at every radiator water point along I-10. Are bees naturally attracted? And am I really going to risk it, or just wait for AAA?

Anyhow, Blythe is an interesting little interstate town. As well traveled as its cousin, Barstow, but not quite as well known. I always wondered how little desert towns became big travel stops... Now that I am watching Late Night, I have been inspired to write a Top 10 of Blythe's possible city slogans to attract travelers:

10. Hey, our fast food is just as good...
9. Sleep closer to the ultra-cool Joshua trees...
8. Come on, how can you pass up the Courtesy Coffee Shop?
7. No, Blythe is not near Barstow. Oooh, you should just stay here...
6. No rooms in Blythe? Try East Blythe, it's two exits down the interstate...
5. Be honest with yourself: Are your kids really going to make it another two hours?
4. Posher than Desert Station, but not as snooty as Indio...
3. Just like Phoenix; well, not really, but you're here now...
2. Close enough to the state line that you could tell people you made it into Arizona on your first day...
1. No really, you thought you were making it to Phoenix today?

Well, I am off to get some beauty sleep before I head to Las Cruces...