<p>When we started this process, I could not imagine how an academy day [or for that matter plebe summer] was filled with training, training, training, and exercise, exercise, exercise. It all seemed so serious.</p>
<p>As it turns out, anytime you bring together 4,000 teenagers, their true selves can't help but come out. With no alcohol and only limited opportunities for opposite-sex distractions, the mids have to come up with alternatives. There are lighter moments at the academies.</p>
<p>Glad you brought it up Bill. Halloween is a big deal at USNA. Costumes are worn to dinner in King Hall and the upperclassmen "trick or treat" to the Plebes rooms. You don't want to be a plebe who runs out of candy!</p>
<p>What a hoot! They are very creative. I loved the guy with wearing the box. That was my favorite. HA! The pink ballerinas kinda made me cringe. What fun.</p>
<p>My daughter was a cowgirl complete with real western boots, hat, red checked shirt, and 7ForAllMankind denim mini skirt. This was no easy feat for a California mid, Bill! She also had the best candy: KitKats, Reeses, and Snickers! But, then she's the sweetest of all! She also mentioned that Prince Albert of Monaco and many Admirals had lunch with the Brigade on Friday. Can't wait for her to get home for Thanksgiving!<br>
A correction, I would estimate that at least one third of the Brigade is not in their teens...Do the other service academies celebrate Halloween? Who is coming home for Thanksgiving?<br>
P.S. She thinks plebehood stinks but loves USNA! Counting the days until Herndon.</p>
<p>The Coast Guard Academy had a Halloween Dance on Friday...invited some young ladies from the local colleges. My son was in traditional TOGA TOGA costume. He said it was lots of fun. He will be coming home for Thanksgiving and is looking forward to that as well as us.</p>
<p>At USNA there is also a big Halloween show (it was Friday night, the costume dinner and trick or treating was on Thursday). The show is held in the Chapel and open to the public -- worth attending if you are local on that weekend!</p>
<p>My son had a small part in the Halloween show; he said it was spectacular.</p>
<p>He also said there were more stars [Admirals] on the yard than were on the U.S. Flag on Thursday. </p>
<p>A question for others.
I wonder why some feel the need to correct every comment--even very inconsequential ones--that others make? Obviously there are not 4,000 teenagers on the yard. In fact, considering the number that come from NAPS, prior service, other colleges, etc, as well as the fact that one-half of the mids are at least two years out of high school, it is likely that not even one-half of the mids are teenagers. The statement was obviously incorrect on its face; but, it was largely harmless and, even when typed, just ignored as a convenient wasy of categorizing a large group of young people. I can understand correcting information that may mis-lead others, that is something all participants on this site should do; but does correcting an simple-minded, obviously incorrect generality bolster the corrector's self-esteem?</p>
<p>I don't post as much as others because, frequently, I can't think of a comment that advances the inquiry much. Others, in any event, seem to have plenty of time to idly comment. That's okay, idle comments can be entertaining. I suppose, in the end, that is why I continue to revisit this site from time to time: its CHEAP entertainment.</p>
<p>Or, really just look up "USNA" under "blogrings" at xanga.com and you'll find a lot of blogs. It's kinda interesting to see a personal point of view from some...</p>
