<p>Just saw the thread on the USNA board about the book "First Class; Women Joint the Ranks at the Naval Academy". Its a good read.</p>
<p>"The Last American Sailors: A Wild Ride in the Modern Merchant Marine" by Michael R. Rawlins is a great book for anyone thinking about going to Kings Point. </p>
<p>Its not about KP but, it's written by a guy who went to sea as an OS and is now an Officer. It gives you a taste for the characters and challenges that one meets on merchant ships at sea.</p>
<p>Awesome! Will look for that being a parent as well! Thanks. Wonder how many kids on here have applied to KP this year? I know Taffy is interested. Anyone else?</p>
<p>I'm applying Jamzmom. I just have to get all the stuff in. It's not my first choice, but from what one of my best friends who goes there says, its a great place. Sounds like they have some fun there too ;).</p>
<p>Oh cool! So glad to hear this. Good to have options soccer. When you can go any branch from USMMA, it leaves your doors wide open. When your friend goes to sea year, you'll really hear about it. The stories I've heard are amazing. Good luck. I know its tough with all the waiting and wondering. Thought my kid would go nuts with it all last year about this time. He waited all the way till April before finding out. I can't begin to tell you how much he loves it there. Hope you get into your first choice. You'll love it there too!</p>
<p>Not trying to turn the place into a book of the month club with a non-academy related read but I just finished a good one! Gotta share!
Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson
Its a true story involving a sunken WWII German U-boat that was found off the coast of New Jersey in 1991. It took a group of crazy insane divers, six years to figure out how it had gotten there. An awesome true mystery.</p>
<p>I knew that.... HA! HA! Really. I did. Hey. I'm gonna start researching everything you say on here. You can't be trusted anymore. Thats really sad you taking advantage of my bubbly carefree personality........ ;)</p>
<p>Sorry I couldn't resist...I promise to be good in the coming days and weeks. On a more serious note, we've been hearing about some kids at the CGA who won't be able to go home for Thanksgiving. I feel bad for em and sent out a general invite for them to come to visit us that weekend. Have you heard anything similar at MMA? We have kids from Cali, Hawaii and a few foreign countries. It's sad that they won't be going home.</p>
<p>Yes there are a number of kids that can't go home at MMA -- we expect to have 3 extras at our house -- I am headed down to pick up a car load on Tuesday. </p>
<p>There are many families that will take them in. I know that most of the midshipmen are aware of those who don't have a place and make sure that they are invited to go home with someone. It is wonderful to have them and they really appreciate it. We had extras at Easter and March Break last year. It was enjoyable both times.</p>
<p>Thanksgiving and Easter are especially hard for kids to get home because of the shortness of the breaks. It is really hard to spend 2 days travelling of a 4 day break and then also have the extra stress of the possibility of delays.</p>
<p>Ya'll read that. Boss promised to behave. No razzing the blonde for "weeks". HA! Cougar, these kids really do look out for each other. Its amazing to see. Wish we lived closer. I'd have a few here. Jamz is staying in NY for Thanksgiving with my cousin who has sponsored Jamz and another Plebe from Hawaii. She'd better make atleast a gallon of gravy to go with that 25 lb. bird. How many pies are you making 8kidsmom? Sounds like you'll have around 15 to 20 people! You guys are wonderful to make the holiday special for those that can't travel home. As for me, I'm going to Boss's house. I wanna see what Granny makes this year! Wish she were mine. I'd just love her to pieces!</p>
<p>I've read the books mentioned (Shadow Divers too), they were great, I also want to add some others. For some class at KP I had to get my son 'Three Star Fix', can't remember the author, but it's a fictionalized report of a mid's sea year in the late 1960s. I read it before I gave it to him and really enjoyed it, it opened my eyes to stuff I never dreamed of. You can find it at Amazon.com. There is also a book out on modern piracy called 'Dangerous Waters: Modern Piracy and Terror on the High Seas' by John Burnett (non-fiction). Actually, if your mid hasn't been to sea yet you might not want to read it, I read it during the time my son was at sea and I kept pestering him with e-mails about pirates after that since it scared me. Also, in this week's new Time magazine there is a 3-page article about pirates attacking a cruise ship off the coast of Somalia 2 weeks ago, and other info about modern piracy. Pretty scary stuff, since my son did go through those waters twice.</p>
<p>I too will have an extra mid at my house for Thanksgiving next week! My son has brought someone home almost every year since he's been there, we've always told him not to leave someone there for Thankgiving or Easter if a friend can't get home! We're looking forward to it, especially since we can get them to finish chopping our woodpile!</p>
<p>Thanks for more winter reading material KPMom. I'll get stocked up for the January blues. Hope you get a ton of split wood! Feed 'em good and they'll clean out the garage for you too! :) HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! :)</p>