Republic Day (India)/Australia Day/Citrus Festival (Florida)
2006-01-26 @ 9:48 p.m.

Allow me to begin with a random interjection. There was a slug in my rifle this morning! Had to dig it out with a leaf, which was quite gross. Am finally back in my bunk, and my outlook on life has dramatically brightened. Haha! The BIC wasn't half as scary as it seemed when we were being briefed. Even so, crawling with most of your body pressed to the ground is no joke. We got sent back in five-tonners though, so I'm not complaining. It was our platoon sergeant's birthday, so we grabbed him and gave him a powder bath when we got back to our company line. (He eluded us at first, but that's because he's freaking fit!) Tossed him in the air a couple of times. He was quite sporting about the whole thing really. The clincher was when the storeman poured cordial over him! We're more or less in a holiday mood now. Just had a canteen break, which is always a cause for celebration over here. Didn't like the laksa I ordered though, but I got more than my fill of cold drinks. I think I've dropped an inch from my waistline.