<p>While I can't promise I will be able to comply with all of them, I can at least give it a shot...</p>
<p>Any special requests? Things you wish you'd picked up at the MidStore? Messages you need sent to your Pleber (not that you need me to do that for you)? A photograph of something you missed (I'll be posting my own, I hope)?</p>
<p>Speak up! I'll do what I can! :)</p>
<p>Just remember, I'll be there ONE day, and with two kiddies in tow, so be gentle! ;)</p>
<p>Of course Z
rush up and kiss my mid
and tell her how wonderful she is
and tell her her 'mommy' misses her</p>
<p>(YEAH, RIGHT!)</p>
<p>Simply knowing you're on site makes me feel a part of things...hows about once you're back and online....share your perceptions and thoughts, as you are so good at doing......</p>
<p>:-)</p>
<p>Will do. Haven't been there since 1998, and even then, I wasn't really paying attention to the Mids. It will be interesting to see how things have changed, if at all.</p>
<p>Hey, Z---want to learn how to dance while you are here in MD?? I have connections....</p>
<p>Well, I'd certainly like to meet a teacher, but the last person who offered to arrange such a meeting kinda disappeared. ;)</p>
<p>Yeh, while you're kissing Peskemom's mid, kiss mine too, they are roomies!</p>
<p>I have pics of both (courtesy of PM), so I know who to look for.</p>
<p>No kisses, though. Would cause WAY too many problems. ;)</p>
<p>Mine was relaxing a bit after the swearing in, sitting on the white sheet that I so proudly remembered to bring.....and this officer comes up to us and ask for her by name, she nearly swallowed her tongue. Jumped up and addressed him and he introduced himself as the only other USNA from our very very small rural town.... just graduated himself in May. Thought it was super cool that he made the effort right on the heels of that Superintendent Rempt walked up and shook her hand. Told us what a strong female class this way and gave her some encouraging comments. Suddenly it felt like a much smaller world that I was entrusting my daughter to. </p>
<p>I do understand about the kiss, she would freak and probably want to deck you...... :)</p>
<p>Sheesh! Thanks for the warning! :eek:</p>
<p>If it's been 8 years since you've been on the Yard....let's just say it's a different place now.</p>
<p>The Mid Store will stun you. So will all the construction - don't even think about using Gate 1, 'cause it's being totally re-done.</p>
<p>Have fun,
Mike</p>
<p>You get this close to Washington and don't let me buy you a beer, you are a deadman.</p>
<p>PM me.</p>
<p>Check your PM's and...get out your dancing shoes!!!! ;)</p>
<p>(BTW--I'm a great babysitter...)</p>
<p>I'm back from a day at USNA...</p>
<p>Wow. What a difference!</p>
<p>Already knew about the Mid Store. No different than in 1998, and I can STILL spot where my locker was (right where all the motivational stuff like pennants and such are located). The rest, however, is VERY different.</p>
<p>For one thing, they have seriously taken some Windex and a paint brush to the Rotunda and Memorial Hall. VERY nice indeed. I also like what they've done to Main(o). Was surprised to find it on the other side of the Rotunda, though...</p>
<p>I was most surprised by the new iron fence that now separates Lejeune Hall and the Gate 1 are from the rest of the Yard. While I didn't get to walk that fence as much as I would have liked (two kids and rain worked against me), I saw that it seems to go all around Farragut Field. VERY weird.</p>
<p>Were I really fell down was the Lab Decks (which we walked in their entirety). Unbelievable the overhaul they have done since Hurricane Isabel, and WOW, what a difference!</p>
<p>At one point I stopped walking, looked at my sister, and said, "God.... What wouldn't I give to be 18 again?"</p>
<p>I have tried to express the sentiment to the kids who are their now, and I hope I've made a scratch on their thought process, but that place has SO much to offer, I can't imagine anyone walking through it and NOT having some level of regret for having missed opportunities. As I watched the new plebes march down Stribling Walk or get their issue in the Midstore, all I could do was be envious. They have only just begun, whereas all I can do is look back.</p>
<p>I regret that most of the Plebe formations I saw had no guideons, so I had no way of identifying them. I did see Delta and Kilo Companies, but only at a distance. They looked just like I expected them to look: Totally lost but beginning to get the hang of things. A few folks still hadn't seemed to grasp the whole "you're a Plebe now" thing, and were moving in formation, etc. One group was falling in (or trying to), and not doing a very bang-up job about it. Nothing new.</p>
<p>I was impressed to note, however, that I didn't see any shouting or somesuch. Instead, I saw a lot of firm but constructive direction and correction. Granted, I only saw a snapshot in time, but it seemed a lot more professional than I remember it.</p>
<p>Another thing that struck me: Christ, were my classmates and I THAT young when we went through? Wow.</p>
<p>No photos to offer, I'm afraid. Dingy day and too busy chasing the kids around. My oldest says she wants to go to USNA now. We'll see if that happens and what her mother thinks.</p>
<p>That is all. :)</p>
<p>Thanks so much for posting your thoughts and observations, Z. Talking to one mom who has a son in the current Cadre...and matching that with my dd's comments that on I-day there was alot less yelling than she expected....I learned that on I-Day they used Ensigns, not mids to start the Plebes new life at USNA and they have set the tone for the Cadre to follow. Other mids are reporting to their families in the first letter that they are getting alot of yelling now, however. My dd's first letter home said she is doing well. Nice to know she is hanging in there in her first week. </p>
<p>May God continue to be with all our Plebes in this time of training.</p>
<p>Zaph, </p>
<p>Did you wear a watch belt with White Works (when not under arms or on watch)? 2009 was the 1st class to do that (since I have been around) and it seems to be following now.</p>
<p>Zaph...did you notice W. T. Door's partly modernized room?</p>
<p>my daughter's letter said-</p>
<p>"long days, but doing fine" and "lots of yelling, but WE can deal!"</p>
<p>It did my heart good to hear from her and I really liked the "we" attitude. Seems already forming a company attitude. </p>
<p>Thanks for the update Z, I'm hungry for any news these days.</p>
<p>Z-Man ... </p>
<p>Interesting observations. My wannabeamid son said nearly same. </p>
<p>"I can't imagine why someone would NOT wanna come here, Dad."</p>
<p>Gotta agree.</p>
<p>Great place, great people, great opportunity.</p>
<p>all you parents and hopeful mids who lurk around this forum...it really pays to stick around and get to know everyone....who'd have thunk that of all the plebes, 2 of our dd's would be roommates of mom's who hang out here???? Phone calls ahead of time to connect and feelings of connection between families had already begun by the start of I'day...and Z is a doll....love him to the death!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Did you wear a watch belt with White Works (when not under arms or on watch)? 2009 was the 1st class to do that (since I have been around) and it seems to be following now.
[/quote]
I noticed that, too. They were all wearing their watch belts. In my day, it was either during drill (under arms) or on watch, but that's it.</p>
<p>I also noticed that NONE of them had listened to my advice on how to give each other a decent tuck. ;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Zaph...did you notice W. T. Door's partly modernized room?
[/quote]
Well, I saw the new one across from Main(O). Did I miss something on the "partly" part? Looked pretty well-done to me. Granted, I know the actual rooms are a tad different, but I don't know the details.</p>
<p>
[quote]
"I can't imagine why someone would NOT wanna come here, Dad."
[/quote]
At the risk of sounding defeatist, I'll say this... give it time. It comes in waves; adoration of the place followed by almost pure hatred, oftentimes with an almost mind-bendingly short period of time between the shifts. It's normal.</p>
<p>That said, it's good to hear that kind of positive attitude while in the middle of Plebe Summer. Good for him!</p>
<p>
[quote]
and Z is a doll....love him to the death!
[/quote]
Awwww. :o</p>
<p>Zaph,
How about the updated computers? I am sure yours looked a lot different.</p>