"Dear Diary"

One day I will look back on these two weeks of training and remember it with fondness. I have met a diverse cornucopia of folks.

There's my roommate who hails from Boise, Idaho. He is 25 with reddish hair which he poofs up on the top of his head. Sort of like a mohawk but curly and not straight. He played for Boise State as a running back graduating in 2000. He just bought the tape of his alma mater's overtime victory over Oklahoma in last year's bowl game, which probably qualifies it as one of the best in bowl history. He last worked at Perkins, a casual dining restaurant.

There's Trent who hails around 40ish and who parts his short hair down the middle. He made an ignominous first impression when he fell on the ground the first day of training. He stepped between the cement and grass and fell on his duff. He jumped up immediately-well, pretty fast for a 40ish kinda guy-and dusted himself off, while everyone was asking, "Are you all right?" He hails from Hardee's where he served as a district manager.

Then there's Lara who thinks she's the cat's meow. She's bleached blonde, probably in her mid 30's, who corrects everyone with a vengeance when they call her Laura. I forget from whence she hails.

Then there's Rich who is a quiet, little timid guy who smokes his cigarettes on every break and doesn't say a whole bunch unless engaged from one of his classmates. He orders his steak medium.

There's Drew, who has a radio voice and has even worked in the medium. I must admit, however, that I'm tired of listening to it, because he is one of those folks who loves the spotlight. And rambles on and on and on.

Jauron is a friend of my roommate. And he's from Boise, as well. He and Glenn ( my roomie ) were surprised to see each other here, because both worked at Perkins, and neither knew the other was quitting the team. They didn't really know each other that well until they got here. Jauron is a Mormon and has three kids and is attempting to have another. He doesn't drink and spent 8 years in the military. He is cocky and very sure of himself. He likes his steak rare.

Preston is a good old boy from Alabama and loves the "Tide." He went to college there and had an internship with VH-1 in New York this past summer. He has a southern drawl but is animated and friendly. He last worked for Taco Bell and loves working for this new company, because "there's only so many ways you can 'fix' a taco." Seems he likes more of a latitude for his own personal dining preferences.

And then there's Ed. He's from Jersey and has the brogue. He reminds me of Jake LaMotta. He tries to be funny, but I don't get it. He's 48 and out to get women at every chance. He last worked for a "Bagel" company which let him go when it was sold to new owners.

That's just a few of my classmates. And "dear diary" I'm fixin' to go study. See you next time.

The long and winding road, v.c.

P.S. Ed had been in 47 states out of 50. Mississippi, Alaska, and I can't recall the other.