Friday, January 30, 2004

Thursday, January 29, 2004

Formation for the IOCT is in less than 40 minutes. I don't care if I get injured while taking it, I don't care if I feel like I'm dying afterwords and feel that way for the next few days, all I care about is passing. I'm nervous because I practiced it a lot, but never did a full speed run through. One morning last week I did a slow jog through it, with a few rests, and I was still exhausted by the time I got to the monkey bars. I did finish the whole thing, but due to my breaks and everything, it was about 2 minutes over time. Everyone is telling me I'll do just fine and I shouldn't worry about it. I sure hope that is the case.
I have the IOCT tomorrow. I'm starting to get nervous. My life for the next few months depends on just a few minutes tomorrow. Ahhhh!

Last night the big snowstorm hit. I'm bad at estimating amounts of snow, so I won't even bother trying. All of the local schools were closed, and the civilians were allowed to not come in today. We, of course, had regular class and everything, and all of my teachers managed to make it in, even my one civilian teacher. He told us he got to school just 20 minutes before our class started.

This evening we found out we have a SAMI this weekend instead of just a MAMI and AMI. I was so happy when I found that out that I started jumping around and shouting for joy...wait, SAMI's mean a lot of cleaning and not a lot of sleep. It was more of a groan.

Snow :)

Monday, January 26, 2004

Bye Berry, I'll miss you.

Today started out okay, then mid-day today it became a horrible day, but then it got a little better. In CS380 I felt like the stupidest person because I had no clue even where to start with the board problems. The group right next to mine, made up of the smartest people in class, had their first problem done in 5 minutes. It was very frustrating.

Then I got back from lunch and had an email saying that my AIAD settlement had never been recieved and I owe a lot of money by a certain date. I called and emailed the contact number for that, and also went to try and talk to my contact here at school, but she was gone for the day. Hopefully that will all get cleared up.

The worst was when my Mom called around 1. I knew right away from the sound of her voice that something was wrong. She told me that they're taking Berry to the vet today and having her put to sleep. She can't keep down any food anymore and is skin and bones. We've had her since 7th grade. I tell people that and they say "wow, that's a long time" but it doesn't seem very long ago to me at all. It'll be so strange going home again and not having her around, not having her begging to go outside and have me throw her toy around for her, and not having her right by my side whenever I am eating any food, not having her there to pet. I don't think it'll really hit me until I go home.

After my Mom called I went down to Adam's room and we talked for a bit and played with legos. It made me feel a lot better. He helped me make a little lego dog, which now sits on my desk. When I got back to my room I had an email from MAJ S asking me to stop by his office, so I headed over there. We talked for a little while as well about Berry, and then life in general. It's really nice having people here I can go to when stuff happens.

Friday, January 23, 2004

I am about to throw my desktop computer mouse out the window. My computer keeps telling me that it doesn't recognize a usb device that is connected, and that device just happens to be my mouse. It works for awhile, and then won't all of a sudden. Perhaps it's time for a new mouse. The mouse my parents got me for Christmas, on the other hand, seems to be working fine.

Thursday, January 22, 2004

This semester's schedule is a piece of cake compared to the past two semesters, at least so far. I only have 18.5 credits, which is the smallest number I've had, save for my first semester here plebe year. On day one's I have five classes, but on day two's I only have two classes, and they are both in the morning. That gives me time to start homework between lunch and crew practice in the afternoon on day two's.

The women's varsity crew team is steadily shrinking, and it really makes me sad. Right now We have 15 rowers, which is one less than we need for two eights. I wish I knew something I could do to get people to come back to the team. A lot of them went over to the rugby team. There are a few people who are injured and can't row anymore, which is very sad. I'm trying to stay hopefull about this spring, but it's getting harder and harder as the team continues to shrink. There are some good novies that will hopefully stick with the team next year and move up to varsity.

I suppose I should get to work.
Trust in God in all things. I forget to do that so easily, and tonight was no exception. I was thinking about how things went with J..., and how horrible everything was, and it was making me very insecure about my relationship with Adam, but there was no reason for me to feel that way about it. Then it hit me that God is in control, He has a perfect plan for everything, and there is nothing that I need to worry about. No matter what happends with it, he is in control. All I need to do is trust in him. That made me feel a lot better right away.

Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Rings rings rings :):):)

The ring I want is somewhere between $1400 and $1800. I can't believe that I get to start choosing my ring. The guys rings are huge, the girls rings are really big, and then the minature rings are about normal ring size. I've never worn rings before, and I was really suprised at the size of the rings, but the lady behind the counter at the c-store made a good point today. She said that some girls are tempted to get the minature ring instead, but anybody can get that one, even a random person off the street. The real rings are something that are unique and extremly special to most graduates. They are somthing you've worked extremly hard for over the four years, and have earned the honor to be able to wear through hard work, determination, lots of stress, and sacrifice. I can't put it into words very well, but the real class rings are extemely special. Anybody can get a minature, but only West Pointers have the real thing. I guess that sounds a bit concided. Of course, the minatures are nice for people who don't go to school here. Lots of people get them for their mothers, girlfriends, sisters, wives, or whoever.

In other news, the old first captain was not found on honor. Classes are going pretty well, save for CS385 Design & Analysis of Algorithms. I think that class will kill me by the end of the semester. My squad is doing pretty well, and 500th night is a mere 2 days away :)

Shibidie bibidie bomper stomper :)

Tuesday, January 20, 2004

This past weekend was a lot of fun. Leah got a group together and we went to a cabin about an hour and a half from school. It was right by a ski slope, and so on Saturday a group of us went skiing and tubing. On Sunday we went ice skating. We have some really cute pictures from the weekend. There's one picture of Jenny that looks like it should be in a JCrew catalog or something. On Friday, before we left, Amanda, Jordan, Adam, Brian, and I went to the Schumachers. Once again, I wish they weren't leaving at the end of this school year.

My new boots came, so I started shinning them this evening. Hopefully they will be really really shiny when I'm done.

It's amazing how things change :)

Thursday, January 15, 2004

I don't like to brag, but I must say it was quite an honor to win the Thayer award last year and then be Time's Person of the Year this year.

That's the joke around here since The American Soldier won both awards.

In other news that I haven't mentioned, for the second time in history West Point has a female First Captain. The old First Captain was relieved of duty right before winter break. I'd expect a big commotion amoung the corps about the whole thing, but everything is being kept very vague while he is under investigation. The cadet rumor mill hasn't churned out too many rumors on the subject, and nobody really talks about it, besides to say really good things about our new First Captain. So far it seems that everybody has a really high opinion of her.

The first sgt just sent out an email that came down from above saying that everyone is forbidden to excersise outdoors, along with no inspections or formations outdoors untill 1300 tomorrow afternoon when the temperature and windchill is supposed to be back up to zero degress. I guess it is pretty cold out, although I could figure that out just from walking to and from class.
Today was a good day. A light bulb came on when I was studying Ada and I actually understood part of it. I called home this evening and it was nice talking to my parents. It's started snowing :) I'm looking forward to this weekend with my friends. I didn't have much homework for tomorrow, which was awesome. One of my friends came over and we sat in my room and read our own books while listening to music. It was quite relaxing.

Last night I found two pictures online of the stages of a growing plant gowing from seeding to fiull grown. I printed them out and stuck one on my wall and one on my computer. They are there to remind me that everything good takes time and patience.

Hint for the guessing game on my IM: think about animals and crackers.

Day 2's are the best in the world, and tomorrow is a day 2 :)

Wednesday, January 14, 2004

It is cold out today. RIght now the temp is 3 degrees. I wonder what the wind chill is. The worst part is when the cold hits my face. A well, as Calvin's dad says, "It builds character."

Tuesday, January 13, 2004

The first day of class went pretty well for this semster. Since I am the only cow in my mil art class, my teacher made me the section marcher. I was hoping that there would be at least one other cow this semster because last semester it was also all firsties except for me. It is very nice to have english and IR done with and out of the way, and knowing that next year I won't have to suffer with everyone else through mil art.

For some reason I am pretty tired, and I don't know why. It's kinda like I'm exhausted, but it's not really because of the days activities. It's more because of changes in life, starting a new semester, thinking too much, being on an emotional rollercoaster, but trying my best to keep that rollercoaster one that little kids could easily ride, meaning not very big ups or downs.

I think I just need sleep. I'm getting to the point where I'm starting to analyze stuff too much again. That's always a pretty good sign that I should stop whatever I'm doing and go to bed.

OCF tomorrow, at last. I can't wait.

Definetly thinking too much. Good night.

Monday, January 12, 2004

This weekend has been a pretty good weekend. Yesterday morning we only had MAMI instead of a SAMI, and our TA-50 layout was on Friday, so that was taken care of already. I was able to go back to bed around 9am after we cleaned the orderly room and then srubbed all of the hallway walls.

Today I got up and went to Church, which was really nice. It was going to be Anne, Adam, and I going, but Anne forgot that she had sent out her dress grey and full dress out to get psg rank, and her other dress grey in the trunk room still had cpl rank on it, so she ended up not coming. We sat with Amanda, and Amanda and I saw MAJ S and two of his boys, so we went and said hi to them before the service.

This afternoon I took a nap, talked to my parents on the phone, did all of my homework, and then relaxed for a bit. Anne went to a mentor's house this afternoon and when she came back she had freshly baked cookies. I hadn't eaten dinner and was really hungry, so I ate two of them. They were really good.

Adam and I hung out in the evening and played cribbage. He taught me the game yesterday. I brought my remote control car over with my monkey attached to it, and Adam made a crown for him. Christy, Adam, Adam's roommate, and I all played with the car in the room, and then Adam and I went around the barracks driving the car and attached monkey around and visiting a bunch of our friends. I was wearing my duck slippers and people liked those as well.

It's warmed up a bit. Friday and Saturday it was below zero and the windchill was in the negative teens. Reight now it's 20 degrees out.

Classes start tomorrow. Oh joy. I have 5 classes on day ones, and two classes on day two's. The nice thing is that I don't have any classes last hour. Hopefully it will be a good semester.

Sunday, January 11, 2004

God works in mysterious ways. I'm glad He's in control and not me. Things turn out a lot better when I trust Him and don't try to do it my own way.

Saturday, January 10, 2004

At last, a little free time that I'm not going to use sleeping. Alyson and I are both very glad that this week is a reorgy week instead of military intersession. Yesterday I was thinking about the past two years and how there were the 4 hour long classes and how those were a killer.

Random incidents of the week:
-being asked to YWW
-a random guy coming up and hugging me after a briefing one night
-finding a pack of cigarettes in the pocket of my field jacket


I'll start with the first incident. A yuck who sits next to me at my table leaned over during lunch one day this week and asked me if I was doing anythign on Jan 31, and if I would like to go to yww with him. He was serious. I was quite suprised. My answer to him was that two big events/dances in one week is too much for me.

Next random incident. I don't remeber what briefing it was after, but I was putting on my coat and gloves and talking to my friends, when some guy walks up to me and suddenly says "hi" and hugs me. At first I thought it was one of my friends, but then I realized that although I think I've seen him around before, I don't know him. I was once again quite suprised and responded with a very confused "do I know you?" He never said who he was, and I don't remember what he looked like anymore. It was just very random.

Then this morning as I was walking to formation I looked down to my field jacket pocket and saw a rectangular outline. I felt it and thought it was rather odd because I didn't remember putting anything like that in my pocket. I reached in and was extremely stunned to pull out a pack of cigarrets. The first thing I did was to look at my nametape and make sure it was my jacket. Then I stood there in the hallway with them in my hand and my mouth hanging open as people passed me by and then showed them to Alyson at formation. I figured they belonged to my 4th roommate who was temporarly living with us, so after formation I went to her and asked her about them. I guess she mistook my field jacket for hers or something when she was putting them in there.

This week I sent out a new Joe Bear episode, but I don't think it is online yet.

Friday, January 09, 2004

Life's been interesting. I'll write about it when I get some time that I don't feel like using for sleeping.

Tuesday, January 06, 2004

I'm back at school and almost all settled in my room. This semester I'm a squad leader with 3 yearlings and 3 plebes under me.

Over break my Dad was really awesome and set up an enviroment for me to help me with learning Ada. The only problem is that although he included tips on working with Ada, I had asked him to include some tips on navigating the enviroment. I guess he didn't hear that part and didn't realize that I didn't quite catch everything he showed me. The result is that I am back at school and have only a very minimal knowledge of how to get anywhere. I did manage to finally open Emacs, after about a half hour of trying to remember. However, I couldn't actually do anything in it because the screen was wierd. I called him at work and hopefully he'll get in touch with me and remind me of how to actually use what he set up.

Right now I there are 5 of us living in my room. I really only have 2 roommates, but Tara is spending a few nights here while she outproccesses for medical leave. The other roommate is Mike. Jill and him are good friends, and so he's over here pretty often.

It's so nice seeing my friends again. I saw Anne while I was down in the basement getting my computer. She was guarding her trunk room. Adam came over last night and I taught him how to play the card game Set. That lasted for a few minutes and then we started throwing a nerf football back and forth in the room, and then started playing baseball with the football as the bat and a tennis ball as the ball. It's amazing that we didn't break anything. Alyson probably thought we were crazy, but whatever, it was fun.

Monday, January 05, 2004

Now that I am at the very end of my break, it seems to have flown by. Right now I'm packing as well as working on a Joe Bear episode. I should be sleeping, but I'll get to that a little later. It was nice being able to see my family and friends at home.

Last night I went over to Misha's house and we watched Heartbreak Ridge, which is actually a Clint Eastwood movie, not a John Wayne movie. I'm sure some people would kill me for making that mistake, but oh well. We also watched most of the movie Patton, because I've never seen it before. His two younger sisters didn't seem to understand why we were watching war movies for fun. It was a good time.

Berry is still alive, but still goes into her kennel a lot throughout the day. She also stands around and stares vacantly off into space. My poor dog :(

Tonight we had dinner together as a family and then we Heidi, my parents, and I watched the movie The Sandlot. I love that movie. When I was younger I wished that I had a place like that were I could play baseball with my friends. Of course, I didn't have any neighborhood friends who I could play baseball with, but that was also part of my dream.

This afternoon I stopped by my Grandma's house to talk to her one more time before I left. Then I went shopping and bought a new pair of pj pants. The pants go perfectly with a pink shirt that I bought 2 days ago that can work as a pj shirt. I'm thinking about wearing my pink pj's and my duck slippers while playing with my remote control car. Very military like :)

Time to get back to work. Before I know it I'll be back at school.

Sunday, January 04, 2004

I don't think that Berry has much longer to live. Today she didn't eat much for breakfast, but then threw most of it up just a little later. She's been going and laying down in her kennel all day. That is rather abnormal for her. She did eat the chicken that my mom gave her later this afternoon. I know that I probably won't get to see her again after this break, but it hasn't really hit me. I guess most things don't seem to really hit me until awhile later after they happen. Right now I'm wondering if she'll even make it to when I leave on Monday. I don't want her to die. Coming home won't be the same. I don't want to think about it anymore right now. It's too sad.

Tomorrow it is supposed to snow here. Just in time for when I leave. Unfortunatly it's only supposed to rain in New York. So much for my hopes of going snowboarding next week.

Last night was the night insomnia hit a few of my friends and myself. At 2am I was lying in bed and couldn't get to sleep, so I decided to call Annah because it was only 11pm in California where she was. When I called her she told me that Ana was on the other line. It was 2am where Ana was as wel, but she had a nightmarer and decided to call Annah. Annah called me back a few minuted later and we talked for a little while until her phone battery started to die. Then this afternoon I found a voicemail on my phone from her saying that when she went to bed last night she found she couldn't get to sleep either.

Berry is still lying in her kennel. It lookes like she is trying to go to sleep or something. She just moved and raised her head a bit. Please don't go Berry. Get well.

Saturday, January 03, 2004

I have to admit that I'm looking forward to going back, as crazy as that sounds. Most of the friends I've talked to from school seem to share the same feeling.

This week has been pretty good, and gone by really fast. The second week of break always seems to go by fast. On Tuesday I went to a formal dinner party. I got to see a lot of my friends that I haven't seen in a long time. I had a really good time.

Then on Wednesday night I went to a party that Stephanies old apartment mates were having for New Years eve that she and liz were going to. Kristen and Darcy also showed up, and so it was a little high school reunion. I also got ot meet Nick for the first time, and at midnight he asked Stephanie to marry him. She had a guess that it would happen then instead of on the 4th. Her ring is beautiful.

I left that party around 1am or so and went over to Heidi's house. I had a good time there meeting some of her friends, and answered a ton of questions about West Point. Although, I felt kinda stupid I didn't know the answer to something or how to explain something.

Yesterday I watched most of the Rose Bowl. Unfortunatly UofM lost to USC. Annah procceeded to call and gloat a few times about that fact. Heidi came over and we rented a movie. Betsy showed up just after the movie ended and the three of us sat in the kitchen talking about stuff until 2am or so. I really liked that time I spent with my sisters and our converstion.

Today I went out to dinner with Frank and then did a little shopping. Tomorrow night I'm going over to Misha's house and we're going to watch a movie that he says is really good and that I have to see. It's a war movie with John Wayne in it that sounds kinda interesting.

And that's my week in a nut shell.