I have to plow through a class in the morning and wait for the assignments briefing after lunch. I am too distracted to really pay attention. Lunch was also nothing special and if it was I don't remember. What I do remember though is logging onto my email and seeing actual confirmation from the USAREC G1, the SFC herself, email myself and my gaining battalion S1 that I'm going to College Station! And there was even an ACT email that identified a sponsor! I immediately thanked God and was beyond grateful to have this weight lifted, because I truly felt twenty pounds lighter knowing that I wasn't going somewhere else.
The briefing still got my heart pumping a little. I mean, what if there was a discrepancy? What if the email was sent to the wrong guy? I waited for the SFC to scroll through a PowerPoint list of our classes names and assignments. A-Z it went, so I witnessed many people before me having positive and negative reactions. One of my classmates is almost in tears, and does later on cry. Finally she gets to the M's and my name has College Station right by it. Another win and another grateful prayer sent up to the Man. I am beyond happy. I realize I am very fortunate, only a handful of people went to Texas, and only I went to the Houston Battalion. It was a miracle.
The house search begins in earnest now. We have decided to buy a house instead of rent; that will make it 3 houses under our belts if we buy another. Thursday is all day classes and briefings I can't quite remember. All I know is that we got off after 1800 on Wednesday and Thursday and the class wasn't thrilled. Each break I text my wife about a few prospect houses.
Friday is a pretty good day. I finally get to come in at 0900, which meant a nice long bike ride to get the day started right. I even got to come in business casual again. All morning we had a retired guy teach us about the psychology of recruiting, how to perform well under stress and how to manage our minds and personal strengths. It was a great class. We review a previous test we all took that measured our personalities and many other traits. I found out that I am both introverted and extroverted and switch it up when I feel. I confirmed that I was stressed out. (Go figure) Interestingly, the assessment also pegged me for being able to hyper focus on a task and use problem solving and analysis to a great degree while disregarding emotion. (Once again, go figure)
Over lunch I spill water all down my only button up shirt and have to change into uniform. Ah well, I honestly felt more self conscious wearing civilian attire anyways. It's nice to be able to hide behind some rank and a few badges. People make assumptions when I wear my uniform because of what's on it and I'm okay with that. People make assumptions when I wear civilian clothes, and what I think those assumptions are, I am less fine with.