Taxi to main post: $3.00 a person
York peppermint patties and new toiletries: $8.63
Burger King combo meal without tax: $4.39
3 hours of bowling per person: $8.00
Getting to spend all Sunday on pass with your good buddy, Dan Van Renselaar: Priceless

Yeah, it's me, in my all exclusive basic training blog. So, I haven't too much to say except that my weekend has been pretty great, and since pretty much all the crucial characters have heard from me sometime in the past couple weeks, I would assume no one is too worried about my general health and well-being. That having been said, I would encourage anyone who wishes to hear from me to write...because, well, I have only the brains and wit to write when written. Or maybe, you know, I need an address to write to you....(cough cough...Lindsey).

Oh yeah, I remember what I was going to say. I got the printed version of the Brotherhood a while back and just wanted to say, Mikey's Winter Whimsicality post and John's follow up regarding his temporary dating service were just about the two funniest entries I had ever read.
I would just like to add that as far as that goes, the spring "fever" is still the most dangerous form of dating temptation....TRUST ME.
Gehh....my mind is blanked.
Oh! Thanks Dan....reminding me to mention just how brutal the M-240B really is....nothing like popping off 7.62 rounds at a rate of 900 rounds a minute to wake you up on a cool February morning. That and, you got to see some of the little tracer rounds light up the morning sky with tips of flaming red. Ahhhh....
Well, this week we'll be camping out. Or...doing "bivouac", as they like to call it. I'm sure it will be fun....freezing my behind off in the late wintry night, and burning up beneath my sweaty BDU's in the hard afternoon marches.
But hey. I'm a man. I can take it.
Alright, well that's all for now, as I am going to spend my remaining few minutes of internet time reading the latest (month and a half's worth) entries on this accursed....or blessed...website. Fair thee well....

#336
SPC Nathan Rose
B 2/58 IN REGT
Fort Benning, GA 31905

live from GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA!!! it was cornerstone conference 2004. cept this time, instead of a conference it was the Urban Dip -- not to be confused with other, more dissapointing Urban related things. let me say that though i felt that there was nothing that i could be shown to finally turn me around and get my heart back on the right track, it was amazing how God worked on me all weekend and then revealed how it all came together right at the end...

connie talked about my semi-revelation in her journal, for those avid connie journal readers - go you! but to sum up, i was kinda bummed i was not interacting with the poor or serving soup to homeless people, but in fact, i think that my picking up trash, moving tables, and organizing shelves, was what God wanted me to be doing. cause, as we all know - what God desires more than our sacrifices is our obedience. the people i helped free up with my small gestures of goodness, are the people who work with the poor and lower class EVERY DAY, and it means that it one less thing they have to worry about while doing what God has called them. i think God for using me, then teaching my selfish heart a lesson...

my only regrets...? well, that i wasn't on the worship team, as always. i just feel like such a bump on a log when i am not playing my guitar. but worship was more than adequate with out me on stage - rokk on you guys (and gals!). my only other complaint was the lack of UNCG representation at a GREENSBORO event. it was darn near depressing to have more people from nearly every school than our own. i think there were 8 of us... now, considering three were in the worship band and i have already graduated, that is like... 4 people who didn't have obligation to be there. it seemed that mos people just backed out because all their friends weren't going -- which is kinda a crap reason not to. though, i must admit, is pretty tempting. i know i had thoughts of how terrible it would be since i know that so-and-so, and what's-her-name weren't going... the worst was not having enough people there to represent the G by doing the dreaded funky chicken -- not even a megan there to abstain from doing it!!!

anyways, i digress... it was great and God has taught me more than i would have thought my pretty knowledgable self could learn. i am starting to reprioritize what i spend my time on now... and i can only hope and pray that the people in my life, and the people who will start being in my life more can help me stay accountable to do these things...

oh... and brooks mcclusky is awesome - k, thanks

as always, keepin it real... REAL real...

here is somethign to keep you wonderful ADD people occupied until i can post nate's most recent letter and my thoughts on CORNERSTONE 2004...

MUST HAVE MORE!!!
enjoy...

as always, keepin it real... REAL real...

Nate's Letter #5 (1/25/04) Day 16

Dear Mikey,

First off, i just wan to say that your letter possesses epic and mighty qualities that threaten my Norse warriorship, enough that i may consider dueling you in letter form. that being said, i have heard that the brotherhood page has grown a bit lackluster of late. i can only assume that is is a) because i have been absent and b) that my letters have lacked the humor and "sizzlepop" that makes girls go crazy. so this is my attempt at an awesome post. i mean, letter. heck, you might just decide to treasure my awesome writings for yourself. selfish, but i could understand.

yes, of the little news of the outside, i have heard of the panthers sudden awesomeness, and because i am one of only two people here from NC, i have decided to play up like i have been a career panthers fan. it only makes it funnier that my bunkmate is a massachussetts native and die hard new england fan. we shall see who emerges the victor... there is a chance we may get to watch the superbowl. if so, it will be the first time i have seen television since watching the price is right around january 6th. HAR HAR!

i am sorry i missed the camping trip. i had this prior obligation, but i am certain that when i get your pictures i'll be sorry about going out on that date wuth larisa olegnik. speaking of women, i can count the number i have seen here on two hands. they're all officers too. hmm... yeah. the crown vic is a beast. but i got my LTD stuck in a ditch once and i'm sure hat was worse. or more hardcore. haha!

so yes... this is the end of the lighthearted cause i do gotta get serious.

God is good... real good. as far as i can see, He prepared me long and hard for this time in my life. the world needs people like us, and God knows it. consider greensboro, and all the opportunities we've had... our last few yeard have been like a training ground. and like me, God may be calling you to leave the comforts and security of the friends you know and love - to go into an environment where your gifts and your fire for Jesus really shine like a hot spark. if i have noticed anything here, it's how bright a candle shines in the dark. i never thought of myself as being as useful as i am now. and all it took was a step...

keep it real dogg,
nate

PS. i named my m-16 after the Norse goddess of LOVE!

you may not be gay... but YATTA is gay enough for everyone...

(just right click and save as...)

as always, keepin it real... REAL real...

i know some of you are angry i haven't posted in a couple of days... but, please don't get angry... just listen to what my friend has to say

Love Is All You Need

as always, keepin it real... REAL real...