Tonight was trick-or-treating for the rats. Loads of fun. My fellow co-dykes (rats owned by my dyke and dyke's roommates; my uncle dykes) were dressed as follows
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Hope you don't mind my dropping in. I happened upon your journal entry through Gibby, who is an old and dear friend, and (since I literally have no life) couldn't resist tossing in a few words.
Halloween at VMI is always a great time--I remember dressing my own Rats as a Title IX officer (complete with Nazi-esque regalia) and a flasher... Sounds like your costumes were unique--and next time y'all want to dress up as a Russian, let me know; I've got a couple hats and a REAL overcoat you can borrow.
As for the rest... Balling up is one of those "traditions" that will never die, no matter how hard the Admin tries to kill it. A couple years ago there was a real increase in incidents, and they started handing out major punishments for balling up folks... trumped it up as "assaulting a fellow cadet," or somesuch nonsense. Hopefully they're not that insane anymore. As for the dubious practice itself... I suppose it's best if the intended victim IS in the "proper state of mind," as you put it. It means so much more that way--and in a twisted sort of way (as only VMI is), it's an honor. Hell, I've even been balled up before, by some of the most upstanding members of '04. Remind me to tell you that story sometime.
So don't sweat it too much. Take your lumps, like your Dyke says... we all get 'em. When I was a Rat, the entire Mass got #1s for being "absent, off post" after Taps. (We were trying to avoid an early-morning forced-march...) It's just one of those things; and as far as it goes, balling up is pretty harmless. So don't worry about it. As for Cadre "disowning" you... that means nothing in the long run. Just let 'em get it out of their systems.
Glad to hear that, aside from a few tiny hiccoughs, things are going well for you and your classmates. Gibby deserves the best Rats, and it sounds like he got 'em. Keep up all the good work, and keep your chin up (but in when you're straining... ;)
Curtis Nieboer VMI '03 Ensign, USNR
PS--If you find yourself particularly down-and-out one day, you might mosey over to the library and check out the 1977 Bomb... I've always found the first few pages to be of particular comfort in rough times.
Hope you don't mind my dropping in. I happened upon your journal entry through Gibby, who is an old and dear friend, and (since I literally have no life) couldn't resist tossing in a few words.
Halloween at VMI is always a great time--I remember dressing my own Rats as a Title IX officer (complete with Nazi-esque regalia) and a flasher... Sounds like your costumes were unique--and next time y'all want to dress up as a Russian, let me know; I've got a couple hats and a REAL overcoat you can borrow.
As for the rest... Balling up is one of those "traditions" that will never die, no matter how hard the Admin tries to kill it. A couple years ago there was a real increase in incidents, and they started handing out major punishments for balling up folks... trumped it up as "assaulting a fellow cadet," or somesuch nonsense. Hopefully they're not that insane anymore. As for the dubious practice itself... I suppose it's best if the intended victim IS in the "proper state of mind," as you put it. It means so much more that way--and in a twisted sort of way (as only VMI is), it's an honor. Hell, I've even been balled up before, by some of the most upstanding members of '04. Remind me to tell you that story sometime.
So don't sweat it too much. Take your lumps, like your Dyke says... we all get 'em. When I was a Rat, the entire Mass got #1s for being "absent, off post" after Taps. (We were trying to avoid an early-morning forced-march...) It's just one of those things; and as far as it goes, balling up is pretty harmless. So don't worry about it. As for Cadre "disowning" you... that means nothing in the long run. Just let 'em get it out of their systems.
Glad to hear that, aside from a few tiny hiccoughs, things are going well for you and your classmates. Gibby deserves the best Rats, and it sounds like he got 'em. Keep up all the good work, and keep your chin up (but in when you're straining... ;)
Curtis Nieboer
VMI '03
Ensign, USNR
PS--If you find yourself particularly down-and-out one day, you might mosey over to the library and check out the 1977 Bomb... I've always found the first few pages to be of particular comfort in rough times.
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