Holy Shit Batman.

"If you're trying out for Ranger Challenge, fall out at the command and form a separate platoon on the left. Fall out."

Being one of four girls, I thought my odds were pretty good. There are only 10 people that are chosen for the Ranger team, one of them has to be a female. I can do this, I thought to myself, psh - no problem.

So we started off with a nice jog.  Silly me, I always thought jogging was a nice, easy pace. I need to re-do my definition, since I've been led to believe that jogging meant slow when in all reality jogging is just another name for sprinting. What is sprinting then? I don't really want to know...

Oh. And stairs. Lots of stairs. So many stairs that my focus shifted from trying to breath to trying not to fall. It was hard.

"Alright, so much for the warm up. Now it's time for Cross Fit. This shit is hard. Anyone can make a 300 on the PT test, but that doesn't mean shit. If you can't carry 190lbs over difficult terrain, then you're not in shape. In Afghanistan, no one is going to spare your life because you're a "PT Ace" ....endurance, strength and agility is what will be the difference between your life and death."

After hauling all the equipment out, we were ready to show the SGT what we had. Oh, did I mention that he's a Ranger and rumor has it he's going Delta? He's also a really good friend of Elijah's and Elijah keeps mentioning that I should "drop" his name, but I just don't think that's a good decision. More like putting a target on my back.

We took off, ran 1/4 miles down hill and then back up. Damn, it wasn't that steep going down. Next, doing squats and lifting 15lb dumbbells over head. 15 reps. A little tricky, I kept doing them wrong. Got corrected twice, not good.

After that came my dreaded, most hated....pull-ups. Fuuuuuuuuu.....15 reps. Could only do two then needed assistance and man do those make me sick to my stomach. Bleyh.

Jump over to the bars and do some knee-ups, another lucky 15, then jump up and down onto these 2ft tall boxes. That looked so easy. Too bad it wasn't. Then we had to do another series of squats throwing a 20lb ball up against a wall and catching it again. Another 15.

By this point, I'm bent over gasping for air. I can feel my throat tightening up slightly - something that's been happening more and more frequently. I think it's the air up here, I've never had that problem before.

"Alright team 2 - do another two reps. Go! Go! Go!"

F.
M.
L.

.....
........40 minutes later I collapse on the ground to "stretch". We're done. My arms are jelly. My stomach hurts. My throat is on fire. My legs are vibrating. Snot is running continuously out of my nose. And this is just day one, this is just the try-outs for Ranger Team.

How do I feel I did? Eh. It's up in the air. Running was good for me, I did well and with the exception of the last hill (when the other girl got her second wind...little fucker) I was the fastest girl. But my form may not get me in, apparently the SGT has already eliminated some people based just on their form. Hrm, should have worked harder at that. And there were a few minutes where I had to take 30 seconds to rest and breathe.

I figure, if I get on the team - that's awesome. Those are points going towards my LLAB and it will be great training should I survive it. If I don't - that's ok too because I have more than enough to keep me feeling busy. Plus I'm here for another 4 years - it's not like this is the only chance I got.

All I have to say though is SHIT. I hurt. I'm sore. I need to go murder half a cow for it's protein and I'm already down two bottles of water and a gatorade this morning.

And now I get to spend the entire freaking day in the library.

-5 page paper contrasting The St. Ignatius Chapel and the Cathedral of St. Basil due friday.
-1 page paper answering questions about My Name is Asher Lev presented by the teacher due tonight.
-3 page chemistry work sheet, fortunately no due date but very wise to complete.
-Resume revision to be finished by 3pm.
-7 chapters of Russian to be completed by monday. Tested on material wednesday.
-Begin work on health seminar paper, due next week.
-Read two chapters for military science tomorrow. Didn't do that last time and it was actually over shit I didn't know. D'oh.
-Complete two separate forms to by signed by counselors and advisors today.
-Continue studying chapter 2 in Chem book.
-Memorize new terms for Art quiz on friday
(I'm writing these down as I think of them)
....

I think that is it.

I have two class cancelled today since it's the "Day of Common Learning" which is an event where there are numerous workshops held around campus all day and you can attend which ever ones you want. I'm going to one about the impact of infectious disease at 2. Then at 3 I got an advising appt. And sadly Chemistry was not cancelled tonight, so I got that from 5:30-8 and then I will probably come back up to the library and take full advantage of the library until it closes.

I just can't study at home. I had to last night and I caught myself listening to my iPod, taking a shower, making dinner.....NOT doing my homework. *sigh*