first, i want you all to behave while i'm gone at basic. i *know* you all look to me for leadership and guidance and these next few months will be hard on you. but fear not, i have faith that you can all reach down deep within yourselves and grasp onto those metaphorical balls that i know you all have deep down on the inside. and whilst grasping said giant balls you can use your new found self empowerment to make good things happen for yourself.
next i don't want you all to be like "oh wow, dan hasnt been around in forever, i guess its time to delete him from my friends list"...and i ask you to not do that knowing that thats exactly something that i would do. i like you all, i'd like to keep interacting with you when i return. hopefully you'll pass me by the next time you cull your friends lists.
thirdly, if you are one of the people who've given me your address you will be getting an envelope in the mail. enclosed in the envelope will be my address written on an index card. i have a friend mailing out my address to everyone on my mailing list. the reason for this (and the reason you all arent getting a real letter from me to start with) is that in the beginning weeks of basic training my time to write letters will be extremely limited. this way i can minimize how much time i have to spend on sending you all my address which will in turn allow us to start corresponding faster (they arent sending me to logistics school for nothing). also please avoid sending me post cards (they get read aloud and i like to keep my correspondence private). also, please refrain from sending any kind of packages. i'm not sure what will happen if i get one (i assume they get opened and possibly confiscated) but i dont particularly want to be the guy that finds out.
and last, i want you guys to all be happy. i'm doing this because its going to make me happier. even if i fail at it (which i wont) i'll be happy because i put forth the effort and gave it a shot. so i want you all to be happy. try doing something you've wanted to do but just never got around to doing. trust me, with the right outlook, no matter what happens it can't go wrong - even if it does. ask someone out, take tap dancing lessons, go sky diving; whatever it is go nuts. i can honestly say that i don't regret any of my choices in life, can you all say the same? so stop wondering if, and just go for the gusto.
alright kids, i love you all (some a lot more than others - you know who you are 
) and i look forward to seeing you smiling faces when i get back...and your other body parts too for those of you who get naked on this site (and i also look forward to having a certain someone's hands on my junk - and its not what the rest of you are thinking).
