Sunday, October 24, 1954

Dear Folks

The time is approximately 2:25 a.m. on a pleasant Sunday morning. I am sitting in the BSOOD’s (Battalion Student Officer of the Day’s) office with my tongue stuck out, staring at the reflection of the overhead fluorescent tubes mirrored in the glass desk top. I’ve just finished eating two unbuttered bologna sandwiches (brought in earlier this evening by an RMESS (Regimental Messenger). The sandwiches were washed down with a small carton of milk from a newly-installed vending machine.

I went to bed at 7:30 last night, & got up at 11:00; I don’t know how much more sleep I’ll be able to get today—I go off watch at 4:00 a.m., & come back on at noon. Because Monday is a test day, I really ought to be doing all sorts of studying, but somehow, at 2:30 in the morning, my heart just isn’t in it.

Today, in the three hours I had free Band practice from 8-10, Extra Academic Instruction from 10-12, lunch till 1, on duty at 4. I took another roll of film. I most certainly hope they come out better than the last ones. This time I took pictures of all sorts (2) of airplanes, the two corrugated-iron hangers around which I’ve run about 30 times, a few scattered bits of flora, a passing schooner, the Monterey (again—this time I didn’t go aboard), a destroyer, & some odd looking ship I’d never seen before. Some porpoises were playing just off the edge of one of the slips (wharf or dock) but I didn’t get a chance to photograph them. Oh, yes, I also got about five feet of a blue jay in a palm tree, which will be very pretty if it turns out. And then there is about two feet of some friends (the one on the left is from Chicago & came in when I did—Jim Oakey) & about three inches of me. If I ever get a splicer when I get home I’ll have a production that will put Cecil B. Demille to shame. Also I got a shot or two of what I usually have to go through Saturday afternoons—"extra military instruction." (I especially hope those shots turned out, though they don’t last long.)

Called last night & made reservations on the Dec 17th plane (7:45 p.m.) to Chicago. Round trip will cost me $95.00, & I’ve got to have it in by December 3rd. So the sooner you can get it down to me, the better it will be—as I said, there will be 825 cadets scrambling to get home that night, & so I’d best get my "order" in soon.

Speaking of the carrier (as I was about two minutes ago), we will be going out on a trip on it a week from Wed. or Thurs. That ought to be fun. I want to buy some fore film for that occasion. (HINT)

Band got "St. Louis Blues March" & "Alexander’s Ragtime Band" today—they sound good, though the "Blues" is awfully hard. It is the exact arrangement that we have at home, so just listen to it & you’ll know what we sound like…well, maybe not quite that good, but almost.
Well, I guess I’ve just about talked myself out for now. Regards to Grandpa, & kiss Stormy for me.

Till later

Love

Roge

P.S. Are you saving my letters like a good little girl, mother. Also, thanks for the stamps, but I could still use some more. Poppa could try pushing a pen a little more frequently.