<p>Who knows, in a couple weeks or so, I may be planning a trip for a taste of Cantlers's crab (along with a pitcher or two). Got any Annapolis area buisiness to work up around June 28th?</p>
<p>Actually, the trip is already planned but the decision is still pending. I'm excited either way really. Empty nesters...here we come. :)</p>
<p>So no decision yet for your son Dad2B? I haven't heard anything from him so I wasn't sure which way he was leaning.</p>
<p>I see this as a little bit of an advantage in some instances. Mid (men) are used to seeing the women in uniforms that, lets admit, are less than flattering. This makes the transformation all the more striking when the women are finally seen in Civies. Women who are friends with the men but may never have been seen as all that special or feminine in the civilian world are suddenly, surprisingly feminine... on top of being outstanding leaders and great people to be around.</p>
<p>But I'll agree about the horrible-ocity of the uniforms on women. You pretty much have to be a stick to pull it off.</p>
<p>Yeah Shawna, I know. Son is a little into his own stuff right now (fairly new, sorta-serious girlfreind along with keepin' up the schools stuff). AP English really piles it on this time of year here and he's already getting ready for AP's and Ashdown along with his many robot and programming projects. He's checking his mail about once every 2-weeks and even didn't answer the last set of inquiries from BGO or MIT NROTC for status.</p>
<p>I can't say it is any indication really, but he has gone to 3 mile runs every weekday morning along with his usual 3-6 days/week gym workouts. Whether he is getting ready or just appreciating the newly found USNA life fitness creed....anyone's guess at this point!</p>
<p>He's got the 4-day, 3-night MIT Candidate Preview Weekend coming up starting Thursday next week. Schedule looks like LOADS of fun. I expect he will either know for sure after that, or may have second thoughts after that...just don't know.</p>
<p>How about YOU?? PM if you'd rather.</p>
<p>yea shawna...update?!!? :D</p>
<p>just a throwback, i think most female mids would agree that guys in uniform have lost the appeal.</p>
<p>"How many young women really think "blue rims are really hot!" And, let's face it, usna is full of geeky guys..."</p>
<p>usna09mom...I think they're kind of hot!! and hey a geeky guy in uniform sounds great to me. There's nothing hotter than a smart man in uniform!</p>
<p>usna09mom...."There's nothing hotter than a smart man in uniform!"</p>
<p>You'd better BELIEVE it! I married the world's cutest Navy Lt. around, who 30+ years later, still can fit that uniform. THAT'S why he is STILL the hottest guy around!!! :-)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Dontcha love how she keeps reminding us of that? ;)</p>
<p>Tomorrow..... I'll start my diet tomorrow! :D</p>
<p>Well, I can still fit in that uniform though it's a bit tight. The problem with USNA uniforms is that they measure you during Plebe summer and then introduce you to the weight room later. Back in my day, high schools were lucky if they had a barbell lying around in a broom closest. A weight room might have consisted of a Universal machine that consisted of broken pulleys and cables. So they measure you Plebe summer, you grow a few inches and voila, new uniforms required. I still can squeeze in those summer whites. I think we need to see a pix of a 5'10" blonde in uniform. I sure she's correct and I always respected 5'10" blondes in uniform.</p>
<p>Zaphod
I keep bringing it up because I KNOW it makes you feel guilty!!</p>
<p>We New Yorkers are experts on laying guilt trips on others. Throw in Catholic school upbringing and Italian and you, my dear fellow alum of my sexy husband, has NO CHANCE!!! :-)</p>
<p>p.s. good luck with the diet, Zaphod.
One caveat</p>
<p>It helps to have HIS metabolism-- every single one of his family of 7, plus parents, grandparents, cousins...are all skinny. It first looked pretty intimidating to me, coming from a family of hearty Italians with an obese father. But, I ended up losing weight, not him gaining weight during our marriage, lucky me. I weigh 35 pounds less than our wedding day, even with 5 babies. Go figure. We order one restaurant dinner and split it these days, we're such light eaters. You could try that.</p>
<p>mvljog440 ....yeah, John had uniform fittings each year, he kept growing. I have his Plebe jacket and it doesn't even fit me - he grew 3 inches through college and kept growing after marriage, too</p>
<p>Peskemom,</p>
<p>I grew up in Brooklyn NY in an Italian, Irish, Jewish neighborhood. I always enjoyed the meals at my Italian brethen homes much more. Back then even as a 4th and 5th grader in elementary school we would go to an Italian restaurant on Wednesdays for their lasagna special. I think it was less than a buck and you could get the meal, bread and a bottle of Hoffman's soda. Fortunatley, my wife makes a great lasagna and stuffed shells because both dishes are hard to find in Georgia.</p>
<p>Did I say "tomorrow" last night?</p>
<p>Yep, looks like I did. Must have been the beer talking.</p>
<p>I meant TOMORROW. :D</p>
<p>Sam,</p>
<p>I'd like to get back to your original post. My daughter is a plebe at West Point. She also had admissions offers from wonderful schools and an ROTC scholarship. She has had a remarkable first year, but only if compared with her friends at civilian colleges. All of her WP friends, male and female, are having great experiences also. I love seeing her friends when she comes home for breaks. But what I hear about from these very smart kids is parties, drinking, parties, fun, and oh, yeah classes are good. </p>
<p>She has exhibited a strength that sometimes surprises me. She has successfully confronted challenges that would have made me back down (actually I would have backed down right away). She has made friends who she describes as so close due to the experiences they have shared. She said this is one of her surprises. The friendships are as strong as those with the kids she's known and loved for years.The mutual support system she is a part of has not let her down and she is there for her colleagues. These feelings are very powerful and I'm sure many of the current cadets/mids are experiencing them also. On the gloomiest, darkest days she has not wanted to quit. On the best days she has been thrilled with her decision and all that it means.</p>
<p>And that's the real point. It's her decision. She wants this experience, warts and all, as well as the career that follows. If it is truly what your daughter wants, then she'll make it her own great experience. If it's not what she wants, then she'll be in for a major disappointment.</p>
<p>Congratulations to your daughter and I wish your family all the best with the process. Please keep us posted on her decision.</p>
<p>Thank you momoftwins for sharing. The bonding, the challenge are definitely what my daughter is looking for.</p>
<p>How do you feel, as a parent (mother or father), about your daughter's life after graduation, as a married woman with children? It appears to me that an officer doesn't have much choice as far as allocating sufficient time for the family or for the children. I envision my daughter being sent off on a long tour, leaving her young children home with their father or grand parents. Not a very appealing picture.</p>
<p>How do female Naval Officer handle that situation?</p>
<p>Sam</p>
<p>Believe it or not, I think about this from time to time. I expect that it will just be one more of many decisions to make in their lives. Women with civilian careers also have to weigh their options and trade off career aspirations and family responsibilities. I'd love to hear from some who have had to deal with these issues. In the meantime West Point has a women's organization and I'll bet that USNA does also.</p>
<p>Dad2B'2010 and APan5: just to answer your questions (and not to take away from the thread)...in short, I haven't made a final decision...and I'm not sure when I will make that decision for sure. But honestly, for a variety of reasons, Harvard is looking more and more dangerously seductive each day... I'll keep you posted though!</p>
<p>shawna</p>
<p>Oh NO!, USNA is losing Shawna!! What's worse....we're losing her to the leftest winged college of all!?! HELP!! ;)</p>
<p>Call out the Shore Patrol and reign her in....QUICKLY!! :)</p>