<p>A time honored tradition in Annapolis, down at the docks, is to burn your stinky socks on the first day of spring. The diehard boaters there only wear socks from the autumnal to vernal equinox; socks are otherwise a sign that you are a sissy. It is their rite of spring signifying the change to boat shoes and shorts. </p>
<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Is that spring in the air - or an old gym sock on fire? In sailing-crazy Annapolis, boaters celebrate the first day of spring with a ceremonial Burning of the Socks, signifying it will soon be warm enough to wear boat shoes without socks."It's a good idea to stand upwind," warned John Morgan, 77.</p>
<p>wpwannabe, which high school do you go to? We're here in Tualatin. It is wierd that my boys go out and do the same workout/play/sports no matter what the weather. You can never get the proper clothes for the weather because the forecasters are horrible. I remember my childhood in Santa Cruz-perfect weather everyday. Fog in the am, sun in the pm.A hot day would still cool down in the night. In Oregon, during summer, it never cools down at night. In fact, it seems to get hotter. Since Jake could care less if he is sweaty or not, he never seems to notice how disgusting it really is in Maryland during the summer. I know when we visit in August, I will just about die. But nothing will keep me from being there and hugging/kissing that kid. We're only not going at I day because its what he wants...Maybe he'll change his mind.</p>
<p>Tualatin? I was just there last week for a track meet! (Tualatin HS anyway, don't know if there are multiple HS in the area). I go to Barlow HS in Gresham. Yeah, it is hard to get the right clothes for the weather. Sometimes I will look outside and it will be cloudy/rainy in the morning and I'll wear a long-sleeve shirt and a jacket, and by the time school is over it's clear and sunny, 70-80 degrees outside and I'm dying. Either that or it doesn't change at all, or it just rains all the harder. I've just gotten used to it though. I end up walking around in shorts and a t-shirt most of the time no matter what, rain or shine.</p>
<p>And I understand where Jake is coming from, not wanting parents to be at I-day. I've told my parents that if I get in I don't want them to be at R/I day just because it will be easier to say goodbye at PDX, a couple thousand miles away, with a day or so to get "acclimated." I just don't want that shock of "90 seconds then move out!" I figure if I am ready when they say that and I'm already on my own then I'll have an edge over the "emotionally fragile" cadet candidates.</p>
<p>I'll probably end up having my parents go anyway though.</p>
<p>Please allow your parents to go along if they can. It's a special day and one they will only be able to experience once in their lives. For anyone attending a service academy, it's a rite of passage and one of the last you can share with your parents. And they'll be in great company if they are crying.</p>