Be Agressive! Be-e Agressive!

Who would have thought that my Mom's advise as she taught me to drive would come in so handy?! As we began the driving part of training yesterday, I could hear my Mom's voice in my head, telling mw, "now you've got to be more agressive in the car or you will never survive in NY." I have since learned that that is twice as true in some foreign cities (i.e. Paris), and was definitely helpful in yesterday's course. Yes,I did flatten quite a few cones, but I did it with such style. =P

I am now a certified gun-slinger

...or something like that. =P I passed both the written exam and all the standards and qualifications (YAY!).

We are moving onto a whole new set of exercises. Last night we were working with GPS and today we start defensive driving. This should be interesting, considering we will still be in full gear, which limits mobility significantly. I will definitely update you all on that one. Right now I am debating whether or not to eat breakfast. Judging from the last driving class I was in, foregoing the most important meal of the day might actually be a good idea. In any case, I gotta go... time to prep for the day.

How is this my life?!

In the last two weeks I have learned more about guns than I have ever cared to know (not that I haven't enjoyed the experience). Not only can I shoot them in just about any position, including flat on my back, shooting over my shoulder, I can also break them down, clean them, and put them back together. Every morning, I get to the range at 7:15, suit up into my "hero gear" (40+ lbs. worth!), and strap on a Sig at my side and an M-4 across my chest. Eye and ear protection are also worn, and a military-style helmet completes the look. Once geared up it is difficult to tell any of us apart, except for me, of course, with my wayward curls escaping from the helmet in all directions. =) I've been wearing a camo head band to lend some control to my crazy hair, which has earned me the name "GI Jane" from one of my fellow gunfighters. Another nickname I've recieved (this one disignated by an instructor) is Annie Oakley.

As the only student in this class with no prior firearms experience, I have managed to draw some attention to myself. The best (or worst) example of this was during our night qualifications (shooting in the dark) when I had to re-do the reload drill over and over (probably 10 times) while my classmates had to stand by and wait. On my last try, I did it in 6 seconds rather than the maximum 8 seconds and impressed those near enough to see. Another rather amusing mess-up was during another qualification. We were at the 50 yard line, lying on our bellies, aiming for a round steel plate. I fired the required two shots and heard the accompanying clink, clink, unfortunately, I was aiming at my neighbor's target, so I obviously missd my own. After focusing on my on target once more, I fired two more shots. This time I was right on! =)

While all of this is quite amusing (also the most physically demanding thing I've done in my life!), every day I think to myself, HOW IS THIS MY LIFE?! There are so many seperate decisions and occurances in life that lead us to the present, and I often wonder which of those things in particular, brought me to this point? If anyone had ever told me that this is what I would be doing, I would never have believed them, and yet, here I am.

I am off to church now... will try to update again soon.