(no subject)
WIsh I could write more, but I don't have the time. This last weekend is the first time in recent memory I've gone to an 11 hour rehearsal and stood 3 hours of watch on 30 minutes of sleep. Actually, it's the only time in my memory, period.
Watchstanding is actually pretty fun, though. Yeah, it cuts into my ability to call people (significantly), because I spend a good deal of available time on watch, but essentialy, we spiffy up our uniforms, put on our covers and white watchbelts, and tour Company Area for a couple of hours, providing assistance to anyone who needs it and keeping the upperclass informed on what's going on. When we get the late night shift on a liberty night, there's almost always a drunk upperclass stumbling in without a clue. Good times.
As for why I got 30 minutes of sleep, I was on the Mini-Buds watch: two of our second class (Juniors) just went through Mini-Buds, which is somewhere between actual everyday SEAL training and Hell Week. A couple of times, they got to come up on deck for an hour and a half or less to sleep, and while they were up here, we had to respond quickly, washing and drying their clothes, cleaning out their boots, squeezing the water out of their packs, heating their food, etc. Since I want to do Mini-Buds in two years, and since Mr. Egorov (one of the two screeners) is on my squad, I volunteered to stay awake and on the watch from 2100 to 0900. Neither of them made it through: one got hypothermia and the other couldn't pass the swim test by the end of the training, but I think it was all worth it. You should hear all the stories: this is an actual conversation one of our second class had with Egorov before they pulled him out of the water during the swim test: "Are you okay?" "Yes." "Do you need any help?" "Yes." "...what's today's date?" "Yes." After they pulled him out, he was delusional, and had no idea that he was secured from Mini-Buds. He just kept telling them how he was ready to keep going, and had a second rucksack up in his room for Phase 2. I respect that man incredibly, and to hear the stories, I'm slightly intimidated about going through with it myself, but that's why I'm training now.
Things have gotten really chaotic, with the play. Just for this week, I've had to stop my 5:30 runs, because I don't get back in the hall until 2100, at the earliest, and I end up staying up to the limits of our "Late Lights," 0000, pretty much every night now. Luckily, that'll be over before too much longer, and I'll be back in the chill in my favorite practical workout uniform, boots and utes, again (not enough time to explain: I'll get pictures of the various uniforms when I can). The show itself is actually looking pretty good. The set and costumes are quite impressive, the acting's not bad, and it's just a funny show. If I can send video home, I will, even though my character's costume is absolutely rifrickindiculous (yes, I did just do that).
I've gotta work on English now- I've got a paper due Friday... and a test... and a calc quiz... and a Chem Lab... *gasp*. Hallwork makes me cringe. Anyways, I'll talk to y'all later.
Watchstanding is actually pretty fun, though. Yeah, it cuts into my ability to call people (significantly), because I spend a good deal of available time on watch, but essentialy, we spiffy up our uniforms, put on our covers and white watchbelts, and tour Company Area for a couple of hours, providing assistance to anyone who needs it and keeping the upperclass informed on what's going on. When we get the late night shift on a liberty night, there's almost always a drunk upperclass stumbling in without a clue. Good times.
As for why I got 30 minutes of sleep, I was on the Mini-Buds watch: two of our second class (Juniors) just went through Mini-Buds, which is somewhere between actual everyday SEAL training and Hell Week. A couple of times, they got to come up on deck for an hour and a half or less to sleep, and while they were up here, we had to respond quickly, washing and drying their clothes, cleaning out their boots, squeezing the water out of their packs, heating their food, etc. Since I want to do Mini-Buds in two years, and since Mr. Egorov (one of the two screeners) is on my squad, I volunteered to stay awake and on the watch from 2100 to 0900. Neither of them made it through: one got hypothermia and the other couldn't pass the swim test by the end of the training, but I think it was all worth it. You should hear all the stories: this is an actual conversation one of our second class had with Egorov before they pulled him out of the water during the swim test: "Are you okay?" "Yes." "Do you need any help?" "Yes." "...what's today's date?" "Yes." After they pulled him out, he was delusional, and had no idea that he was secured from Mini-Buds. He just kept telling them how he was ready to keep going, and had a second rucksack up in his room for Phase 2. I respect that man incredibly, and to hear the stories, I'm slightly intimidated about going through with it myself, but that's why I'm training now.
Things have gotten really chaotic, with the play. Just for this week, I've had to stop my 5:30 runs, because I don't get back in the hall until 2100, at the earliest, and I end up staying up to the limits of our "Late Lights," 0000, pretty much every night now. Luckily, that'll be over before too much longer, and I'll be back in the chill in my favorite practical workout uniform, boots and utes, again (not enough time to explain: I'll get pictures of the various uniforms when I can). The show itself is actually looking pretty good. The set and costumes are quite impressive, the acting's not bad, and it's just a funny show. If I can send video home, I will, even though my character's costume is absolutely rifrickindiculous (yes, I did just do that).
I've gotta work on English now- I've got a paper due Friday... and a test... and a calc quiz... and a Chem Lab... *gasp*. Hallwork makes me cringe. Anyways, I'll talk to y'all later.