2008-2009: Holly Black

It's crunch time!

Hi everyone,

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving.  I know I did!  We had a house full of people and we laughed and ate a ton of good food.  I never realized how tiring cooking can be.  My mom and I spent most of the day on Wednesday getting food prepared, which meant there wasn't a lot to do on Thursday--which was nice.

Thursday morning, I went to the high school football game with my dad, my brother, and my cousin.  It's a tradition of us to go and for the last 10 years--our town has won the Thanksgiving Day game.  However, this year was not the case.  The game was so bad that we left during the 3rd quarter.  Better luck next year.

I got a lot accomplished this week, I think.  I went through my room and cleaned out some things, got an inspection sticker for my car, visited my high school to recruit for Norwich, did some homework, and went to 2 doctor's visits.

One of my rook sisters was home with me for the week.  We did a ton of Black Friday shopping.  In fact, we woke up at 0600 to do so.  I was surprised--the stores were not really that crowded.  I expected them to be much worse.  We went into Boston later in the afternoon.  There were a lot of people there, but that's typical.

I'm heading back to school in a few hours.  It's officially crunch time when I get there.  We have just over a week of classes left and then finals.  It's scary to think that I'll be home again 17 days from tomorrow.  Time flew last year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Well, I need to take a shower and finish packing up my belongings.

Until next time,
Holly

A week away from Norwich - Here I come!

Good afternoon,

It's Friday and I'm more eager for the week to be over than ever.  I cannot wait to get home!  I have one class left this afternoon and then I'm out of here for Thanksgiving break.  FINALLY!

It snowed quite a bit earlier today.  Luckily, it stopped...so hopefully getting home won't be too hard.

The semester will be coming to a close shortly after break.  We will have 7 days of classes until finals.  Where did the time go?

Wednesday night we had Thanksgiving dinner here at school.  All cadets get together with their original companies for the event.  Some of the Foxtrot freshmen had a pie-eating contest.  It was pretty intense.

This week will consists of many traditions, such as dinner with my family and the high school football game with my dad.  I look forward to the little things.  They keep me sane.

One of my rook sisters will be joining me at home for the week.  Many kids cannot afford to get home this break.  Airplane costs are just too expensive.

Until next time,
Holly

Veteran's Day

Good evening,

I wanted to write a quick note on here to let you all know I'm still alive--barely.  I had 4 exams today and I have to finish my care plan for tomorrow so I can go to clinical.  I feel like everything just hit me at once!  Luckily, I don't have that much due/to do for next week.

We just finished a week of sophomore cadre training.  Here, many of the corporals (including myself) were assigned to freshmen platoons.  We shadowed the current cadre staffs to see what next year will be like.  It was cool, but I wish it hadn't been this past week.

Yesterday was Veteran's Day and we had our annual observance parade.  There were many veterans there and the presentation was really nice.  However, my hands were cold standing in formation.  There were light snowflakes throughout the day.

Yesterday was also my sister's 28th birthday.  Happy birthday, sis!

Sorry to cut this short, but I have to get back to work!  I can't wait for Thanksgiving break, which is quickly approaching.  AHHHHH!

Until next time,
Holly

Navy/Marine Corps Birthday Ball

Good morning,

I have to take a make-up PT test in just a few hours, so I've been stretching out and trying to relax. Tuesday is my day without classes, except for Mil Lab, but I feel like it is my busiest day because I spend much of my time on schoolwork.

I am meeting with my academic advisor before Mil Lab to discuss spring registration, which begins tomorrow for sophomores.  It's hard to believe that there are only a few weeks left to this semester.  I feel old.

Last Wednesday night it was very cold, snowy, and very windy.  I had to drive to Walmart to pick up a few things and I could barely see.  Thursday morning wasn't much better and I had to drive to clinicals.  Another Vermont winter is brewing...Luckily, the snow only coated the ground and it all melted by the afternoon.  Since then, it has been brisk, but sunny.  The weather changes by the hour around here.

Thursday night I went to the Pumpkin Show at Ellie's Farm Market down the road on Route 12.  There were more than 1,000 jack-o-lanterns that covered a huge hill.  It was fantastic.  There were carvings of the presidential candidates, the Wizard of Oz characters, Marilyn Monroe, animals, and many many different skeletons and faces.  There were hundreds of people there.  It was great.

Anyway, Saturday was the annual Navy/Marine Corps Birthday Ball.  It was a good time and I had a lot of good laughs with my friends from the battalion.  The ceremony was very nice, as it was last year.  However, I crashed after the ball because I was so tired from last week.  However, I had to wake up early again on Sunday for schoolwork, as always.

I have color duty for the Naval Battalion this week, so I am obligated to go down to Plumley at 0700 and 1600 to put up and retire the flag each day.  I don't mind it, but I was nervous yesterday because I had never done it before.  It wasn't so bad once I learned what to do.

There are 17 days until Thanksgiving break and honestly, I can't wait.  I am anticipating a week off from school more so than I did last year as a rook.  One would think it gets easier as an upperclassman, but I assure you all--it doesn't.

Thursday we are supposed to start a week-long evaluation period as corporal cadre.  There is supposed to be 5 corporals (us sophomores) assigned to each freshman platoon for training to be cadre next year.  I'm excited about it, but with my busy schedule heading into the end of the semester, I wish it wasn't right now.

Until next time,
Holly