Today was the entire classes first real, full, day off from anything even remotely military related. Thus, you would think that we all slept in, ate like pigs, and did everything opposite of what we've been doing for the past two weeks. However, you would be 100% wrong. For example, I woke up at 0600 this morning and couldn't fall back to sleep. After trying for about an hour, I decided to get up and get my day started. What was the first thing I did after brushing my teeth? If you said eat a big greasy breakfast to fight the relative daze I found myself in from the night before... You'd be wrong. Instead, I put on my running shoes and headed to the new track that is to be the site of our first APFT this coming week. It is hard to even call this half-oval shaped strip of asphalt a track at all. Instead it is a walking path that surrounds two softball fields and a single, artificial, all-purpose playing field. It has pot-holes, dips, trees, and two corners that form angles more acute then 90 degrees. The entire class had been warned about the new track, and we all wanted to make sure to run on it before our APFT, and so that was the first thing I did this morning.

I find it slightly ironic that even after only two weeks of the "Army Life," I feel a "day off" is anything but that. Maybe it is the knowledge of the impending APFT, or that I am at the Judge Advocate Regimental home, or the simple fact that I am now a member/soldier/lawyer within the Army that keeps me from straying too far from the life-style I have started to embrace. Regardless of the reason, my day started almost as early, and certainly in a similar style to each of the thirteen days before it, and it felt good.

After the workout and a quick shower, I decided to explore the UVA campus by taking a walk from the JAG school to a bagel place called Bodos that I had heard great things about. It was a much longer walk then I had expected, and it was HOT. However, this campus is gorgeous, and I found that the route to my ultimate destination lead me right by all of the hallmark buildings on campus, including Jefferson's Rotunda.

After my bagel and the HOT walk back to the school, I met up with a number of classmates and we got a quick GREEK lunch at "Cafe Europa" on The Corner, before making a mass exodus to Target. Once that was completed, I discovered that my Army Service Uniform had arrived in the mail. I eagerly took hold of the large box and once back in my room, it was time to start trying everything on to ensure that it all fit. The ASU is the new, all encompassing formal attire of the Army. Apparently, for several years, there were several different types of formal wear that all had their purposes and appropriate times to be worn (very confusing). The Army, in its imminent wisdom (this time it was definitely a sage decision) decided to create a single uniform for formal events, and that became the ASU. Surprisingly, everything fit but the pants, which will have to be sent back in and adjusted.

After a short nap, a group of my squad-mates and a few other new friends were invited for a BBQ at another classmates actual home just South of Charlottesville. Lt. Dan Rutherford and is lovely wife, for some odd reason, decided to open their picturesque home to a couple of us new Army brats for an amazing BBQ dinner, which was accompanied by the most phenomenal biscuits and apply pie I've ever had. It was a fabulous evening as about 10 of us got to relax and kick our feet up with a good home cooked meal (the first for all of us since we left our prospective homes two weeks ago.) I think this small dinner really provides an excellent illustration of just how close you become with your new classmates in such a short period of time, and just how amazing the people that join this program really are.

The whole event ended with a little head-shaving party. The barber was Lt. Saylor, the victim was none other then myself. I had been warned that in a very short period of time, my hair would be too long and would need to be cut. Having known, for the past several years, that I would be bald in the not to distant future, I decided that tonight was the night that I would give into the inevitable. With the help of Lt. Saylor, I am now nearly bald, and according my my compatriots at dinner (and I have to agree with them) it looks pretty good (Thanks for the support Lt. Lucht and Bestie!!!!).

All in all, my "not so" day off was pretty awesome, and I'm looking forward to another one tomorrow. Keep the questions coming. I see that a fellow classmate answered the last questions posed, and I will confirm that her answer was exactly correct (as far as I know). Thanks for reading...