spring break

Spring Break... easily one of the most anticipated breaks for a midshipman. Why? Because we spend the whole winter in the gym with one goal in mind, to have killer abs, huge biceps so that when we go on spring break we are half way to ultimate goal of every male mid: being jacked and tan.

However, the typical mid doesn't start to work out for this goal until the Wednesday before hand when they flood the gym pissing off all the regulars, as they attempt to do 1000 crunches, 250 flutter kicks, 50 arm curls with weights way to heavy, cable crossers, etc etc...

But once a mid has escaped the prison walls of Bancroft Hall, they split into two categories: the wanna be frat boys and the rest.

This year I embarked on my first spring break adventure, for the first time, I didn't spend my 10 days at home, which can be fun. However, lately it only ends up with old wounds being reopened - but that's a long story and not intended for this blog, although many mids do go through a similar experience. I went on a cruise this year. Easily the best 600 bucks I ever spent, and definitely the best 600 bucks I spent on leave.

Now, the key for a spring break cruise is to find one with as close to zero mids already on it as possible. We managed to find one with none, but when we got there unfortunately there was another group of five male mids. But it worked out okay, b/c the other group fell under the frat boy category and I don't think I ever saw them not already drunk off their asses, which is fine b/c that means they wouldn't be a threat in the girls area - because the only other threat to a group of mids when trying to steal a young woman's heart are other mids.

On the idea of stealing a woman's heart... this is a major theme for spring break cruises, and to be honest was probably the best part. I got lucky and my cruise easily had a girl-guy ratio of 4-1 (i know AMAZING)... and what makes it even nicer was that the formal dinner was the 2nd night of the cruise, and yes we did wear our choker whites and yes we did go early, so that the dinner before ours would see us as they exited (we had the late dinner). The rest of the cruise, girls would approach us asking if we were the guys in uniform at dinner, "yes ma'am we were, what's your name? what school do you go to?" common conversation starters.

Now, my friends and I (five all together), did most of our work in the club that second night, because we decided just go in our uniforms, since dinner got out late. But before the club we stopped at the blackjack tables were we met our friend Victor, he was in his dress blue's, the only uniform in the world that trumps ours, the Marine Corps Dress uniform. Victor, a sergeant, had just gotten back from Iraq and was a really cool guy. He came to the club with us also.

Back, to woman however, in the club, in our uniforms, we circled up and started dancing.... i don't think its ever been so easy to pick up girls, in about 5 minutes our circle was disbanded and we were all dancing with a girl, some of us with several. For the most part, we found our "cruise girlfriend" on this night. For me she was a tall, thin, blue-eyed blonde from the Univ. of Kansas with a hint of an accent. Jackpot folks. Her name was Erin, and yes she was also a very good kisser. Alas, one must remember that it was only a cruise and rarely do these things carry any further. The two nights that we hung out I never asked what her last name was so I have no way of finding her on facebook or myspace. But, in a way I appreciate more this way, because she'll be that perfect dream girl that I can say I let slip away. She did make those two days a lot of fun though.

My roommate on the other hand, found a similar hunny, Ali. Cute, shy girl from New Mexico of Mexican decent (like my roommate). He on the other hand was able to hang out with her just about every night of the cruise, and even called her yesterday. I told him he needs to ask her to Ring Dance, we'll see.

Well all-in-all I think this post is long enough, I'm sure there are several areas I did not mention and stories left untold... but for now this will do. I highly recommend going on a cruise if for nothing else but to experience a taste of retirement and to be able to eat good food 24/7.