Surrounded!

So, today was a relatively easy day--all classroom work--whereas the last few days this week have been very physically demanding--so much so that upon getting back to the barracks, eating chow and taking a shower, I was out like a light...

But, today was just sitting in class and then going outside and learning about some of the heavy weapons we will shoot tomorrow (50 cal, 240Bravo, M2 grenade launcher--very exciting!). Oh yeah, we picked up our chem-bio suits too--protection from the omnipresent WMD. And then, at the end of the day, the drill instructors decide we have to have another formation and yell at us about the state of r barracks--not clean enough! Just part of the military game, no big deal, but the point is: no time for a run before dinner...

Couple of good e-mails from work and home (exciting happenings in the world of influenza surveillance and the kids grades--exciting, but not in a good way...). And then (Finally!!!), someone in the barracks wanted to play chess--not easy to find a chess partner--intellectual stimulation!! Next thing I know it is 2200--lights out!! I have to grope my way through the darkness to bed and set the alarm (early day tomorrow on the range shooting those heavy weapons) and get to bed.

As soon as the head hits the pillow, there is no chance of sleeping--no exercise, exciting info from NHRC and home to ponder, and my brain amped up on chess... As these things slosh about my brain, slowly seeps in the sound of snoring... I am surrounded by it--weird thing is there are only racks to my left and across from me--I am at the end of the room. But, the sonorous snoring sounds are coming from all around--Dolby Digital chainsaws--echoes galore... I put fingers in my ears, put a pillow over my head and am about to put earplugs in.... but thought I would write this first...

goodnight...