Movie Night March 31, 2010
Posted by midswatch in Special Events, Writing.add a comment
Forty-one days down. Fifty-nine to go. Memory 42/100:
My room might be the best room in all of Bancroft Hall. It has four times the square footage of a normal three-man room because it is located in the top corner of the building, which also has a great plus: I can overlook the Severn River leading to the Chesapeake Bay from three different angles. Ever since I was a plebe, I knew that I wanted this room. I didn’t think I could get it because I was sure that someone else would snatch it. Last year, all of us rising firsties drew numbers to see who would pick rooms first. I drew number three. It was a good draw, but it was still going to be close. Luckily, the two people before me wanted two-man rooms, so I got what I wanted!
Under Rene’s guidance, we furnished the room elegantly with a tasteful couch for visitors, a papasan chair to nap in when we don’t have time to get in bed, a refrigerator for all of the great meals we planned on cooking, a small shelf stand for extra food, and two shoe racks. We each had a rolling chair, (compared to the nasty slide-chairs,) and enough closet space to dress a king.
From the beginning, we knew we had a special room. We started a fun activity which we uniquely named “Movie Night.” Instead of watching a movie once a week, we watched a little bit of one each night after dinner. We managed to get through the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy within a week—meaning, we watched more than a ‘little bit’ each night. We all had homework to do, but it was fun to afford ourselves some time each night to hang out and enjoy a show. The couch and papasan chair were incredibly welcoming, and movie night expanded beyond a purely roommate activity to an all-comer-dude-film-night.
Eventually, I ruined the nightly ritual because I had too much homework to do. Rene also had a lot of World of Warcraft to play, so we called it even. Chris never complained, so I’m wondering if he even liked movie night. That, or he’s heartbroken.
We plan on reinstating movie night again. I realize how little time we have left to hang out!
Running Around the Yard March 29, 2010
Posted by midswatch in Writing.2 comments
Forty days down. Sixty to go. Memory 41/100:
I remember while preparing for the Marine Corps Marathon this year, I took training runs around the Yard. The Naval Academy has two main running routes: the Inner and the Outer. They both take runners around the perimeter of the Yard, but the Inner cuts off before Hospital Point, reducing the distance by about a mile or so compared to the Outer.
Obviously, one lap around the Yard would not be enough to properly train for a 26.2 mile run, so I took multiple laps. I figured out the exact turns along an Inner in order to get three miles per lap.
On the particular day of this memory, I had planned to run three laps—nine miles. Even though I had been running for a long time, I still knew that the workout would be difficult. The feeling before leaving my room was a lot like how I felt when starting this term paper I’m working on right now. I sat in my chair, drank a few extra sips of water, checked the weather, retied my shoes, checked the weather again, and then finally decided to get moving.
I remember after my second lap, my legs were very tired. I had set my pace at seven minute miles, and I came across the six-mile point at 42:45. I was slowing down.
One of the hardest parts about running around the Yard is that the Naval Academy is surrounded by water—it’s almost always windy along the seawall. And the wind always seems to blow right in your face.
I tried to pick up time as nature slapped my cheeks and irritated my eyes. My calves began to burn worse, and I could feel my knees start to lose support.
Then something happened. I couldn’t help but smile—I wasn’t sure why, but I grinned as I heard myself give the ol’ self-pep talk I seem to do in times of triumph or failure: “OK… OK!!!…” and I knew I would make it. The pain didn’t leave, but it became a side-show to the more important act of finishing.
I crossed the finishing point at 1:02:55. Right on pace.
Now, I need to get back to my paper. I’m hoping I’ll start to get the grin as the end is in sight—I should, as I’ve been talking to myself for days.
Just Keep Swimming… Just Keep Swimming March 28, 2010
Posted by midswatch in Writing.5 comments
Thirty-nine days down. Sixty-one to go. Memory 40/100:
I remember being told before I came here that I would learn how to prioritize tasks extremely well. Sometimes you gotta take a hit in order to finish something else.
You can’t get it all done, and you have to decide what will give out first. I hope my devoted readers will come back to read tomorrow.
I’m sorry March 28, 2010
Posted by midswatch in Writing.add a comment
Thirty-eight days down. Sixty-two to go. Memory 39/100:
I remember the time I waited until the weekend before my 30 page paper was due. I didn’t leave my room for days. I didn’t even write a real post on my blog.
…Graduation was more important!
Remember the time when… March 26, 2010
Posted by midswatch in Writing.add a comment
Thirty-seven days down. Sixty-three to go. Memory 38/100:
As the days wind down, we often sit in our rooms and reminisce about our memories. It usually goes something like this: “Remember the time when…
… during plebe year we saved a whole casserole of lasagna in our extra locker for a midnight snack but forgot about it for two months? It became a good Army Week prank.
… we had both turned 21 and went to a bar that was filled with middle-aged people, and we didn’t know what beer to ask for? I could barely finish a single Guinness, and it has been my least favorite beer since.
… I had a rap battle with Mike during Plebe Summer in front of the entire company, with Cal giving the slow beat box?
… you both attacked me while I was getting dressed? I have never been so vulnerable, fending you off with a sock in each hand.
… Cody and Blake snuck into the attic to watch the Blue Angels, and Gunny saw their heads from his office–and they mopped the whole company area instead of getting to watch the show?
… our squad was late during a race in Plebe Summer and we were missing Rene, so we ran into the bathroom and yelled at the person in the stall to you know what his you know what only to find out it was a detailer?!
… when Clay was caught eating Lemon Heads during a lesson Plebe Summer, and we lost our privilege to use pockets?
… we had to do 10 push ups for each mistake the Training Staff caught, and they counted 12 different mess ups?
… we had to wear three name tags until we learned each others’ first names?
… we played soccer in the hallway, and the ball knocked the exit sign down, shattering it on the floor? Then we all ran in different directions so that 9th Company wouldn’t catch us playing in their area!”
