Its been a whole semester and I miss this blog.
Major things: single again. Jayme getting married. I hate this place currently.
Im having trouble being patient with VMI. I htink I am usually pretty good with letting things go… but I can’t help feeling darker towards things. Its made it a lot tougher to focus on important htings like, academics. I really need to go home and get what little s fummer break I’ll be getting.
So Life is marching on at the institute. We are getting inevitably closer to the big day.
Last weekend was a cold FTX. We woke up sunday morning covered in frost. The rest of the weekend was nice though. I busted my ankle on the road mrch and it is still feeling sore.
This weekend is Spirits of New Market. It is always a good time.
I’ve had lots of free time this week. Ive tried to just be reflective with it, and meditate some.
I’ve felt very much under attack. None of my roommates are really serious believers. One is an avowed atheist. It gets tough sometimes, I feel like Im all alone a lot. They like to do a lot of things that are rough on me sometimes, and they dont seem to understand why such things bother me.
Ive felt stronger in the last couple of days though. Wendesday was a good day. We studied the power of faith, and how having that faith is all it takes to be rescued by the Spirit. It was deffinately an encouragement to me.
I really miss Tanya
Graceandpeace,
Ross
Good workout. I had a drummer rat, whose dyke is a good friend of mine. He did well. real well. he had a busted knee, but he put out. Nay-nay’s rat broke and went to the emt’s so we double teamed mine. It was good. Broke him off, then had mim doing push-ups for each of his dykes, and the new market cadets. It went pretty well. then we started pushing with him, and i did high knees with him, while Nay-nay held his hands out for us. It was weird being worked out by my own roommate, but fun anyways.
I was really pleased, and felt like he got some good motivation. He deffinately earned some respect from me. Well, all the respect a Rat can earn anyways.
Graceandpeace
~Ross~
So I am about to work RATs out. Trying to get pumped and angry for it.
I’veb een mixed on the Ratline lately. I wish I had had harder one. And I do want these Rats to get a hard one, but it doesn’t seem worth my time. It doesn’t help that it seems like so many people are working against it. Why should I bother? I know the practiced answer is becasue I can do my little part, and atleast give a RAT a little bit of a ratline.
The reason we are giving it otnight rather than thirds is that they have gotten introublw for fraternization. Although it seems ot be limited to atheltes, as a good chunk of it is every year, the entire class has been punished. They will not be getting push priveleges this week either. So my class has been told to step it up. We are now allowed to push on second and third stoops We are also allowed to lead Rats up to the third stoop to push them as well. That means they are having some rough days.
I gotta go!
Graeceandpeace
~Ross~
I wrote this a few weeks ago. Kind of inspired by my Modern Art and the Great War class.
Never to dream again, the youth sits in the frozen mud. Fingers, dirty fingers, clench themselves mechanically. He sits among the dead and dying. He sat here before. There was a time, in the years before, when he had worked these fields. Then as now he his fingers were clenched, his feet sore, Legs stiff, arms heavy. His feet have been bloodied by years of work, now they have healed, with callous indignation. They casually rebuff even the worse treatment; just as they had then, when they worked. Now they toiled, along with the rest of him.
Then he always waited for the coolness of the summer twilight to relieve him. Now he sits in fearful anticipation. What had once been his dear friend was now his dearest enemy. He clutched at his rifle as the light darkened. The shadows were longer, stretching like the fingers of the Darkness they previewed, reaching for him and his mess mates. His fear was noticeable, but beneath notoriety. There would be no sympathy. There was no one stronger than he to help him.
The days of peaceful summer bliss where swept in wind. The leaves had turned early, if they had turned at all. He did not bother to notice. The frost had come, and made his nocturnal enemy more vile. There was no tool to break the ground save one. It came from above and was rarely appreciated. He would be home now, working in a cool barn, surrounded by restless animals and musty hay. Then as now, his work is never over.
He looks about himself. The noise hadn’t existed. He had registered none of it. He had found himself in his present condition quite involuntarily. Boots were sitting by his face, a dog tag attached to it. He peered at it cautiously, which of his mates would be the one to pay the price this time? No! That cannot be! It is impossible! He struggles to his feet! No! his feet will not support him this time, this time they will fail him, as he looks at the bottom of one of his until then faithful limbs, he feels the pain. A sharp twinge at first, then the sensation of nerves being dragged.
He reaches for his foot. The eyelets of the laces stare unapologetically back at him. Why did you bring us here? You need not have done that. This is your doing. We cannot continue this course with you. The boy cries. His manhood stripped as he longs for that loving bosom that sprang forth his life. The tears drip form his cheeks, mixing with the blood. His spirit oozing forth from him with each gasp as he cries.
He rolls over to stare up. Sympathetic eyes look down on him all around as they pass. None stop to help him. The pounding feet, still loyal to their owners do no alter their course, but unless to avoid the puddle of life forming next to babe.
But there is a pair that stop. They belong to another soldier. This one wears the Holy insignia of his office on his sleeve. The red and white marked arm takes his pulse. Lips scream to one another. The youth feels the blood draining form his face. His mandibles cannot form the response. He can only listen: I think he’s had it. He doesn’t even know where he is right now. The poor bastard. We gotta get out of here man! Lets get moving! More guys up ahead! Should we morphine him at least? No use, he’s in shock, he isn’t feeling it anymore anyways; save it for another.
The pain is ratcheted as vibrations shake the ground around him. The bombs do not stop. The youth reaches out for a companion, his arm drops into the puddle next to him. His fingers graze metal. They dig around in the mud until he makes out the shape of the object.
He grabs at his old friend. They had been through many assaults before. He clutches the familiar shape to him as he had become accustomed to it all those months ago in training. The bolt is still forward. The grim discharge has yet to be made. Now the child asks for one more favor from his deadly companion. The boy slips the metal tube into his lips, cringing at the mechanical taste of oil and steel. Steel is what runs through his veins as he reaches down into the trigger guard. The screams of the others drills into his ears as the furies of Greek Mythology. They haunt him, his will falters momentarily. The moment flies, and he gathers himself. He inhales one last deep breath of freedom, and now manhood. His youthfulness leaving him now, as he crosses a new threshold. The finger is tight on the metal now.
The youth sits under the old apple tree on the hill, among birds, and chirping of crickets. He watches the sunset. His hands clasped lazily behind his head, legs sprawled out . His feet are tickled in the grass, playful, and without care. He smiles as his breathing slows and darkness overcomes him slowly, allowing him to dream once again.
Graceandpeace
~Ross
So last weekend’s trip was really amazing. There was so much to talk about, I’ll just leave it all at amazing.
The Play opens tonight. I know my lines well enough to stumble through. Its gonna probably be shaky, we are going to be rehearsing all after the parade and on right up until about a half hour before the show.
I’ve been so busy with it this week I havn’t had any time for Tanya. I’m going there in a couple of weekends, but I really hope to see her before that. I really miss her.
The Commandant’s staff placated somewhat. They gave us back some priveleges, its still al ittle bit tense. I’m waiting for them to try something stupid and bring on round two.
Ring figure is getting closer now.
I missed the debates last night. Really haven’t been able to get myself excited about this election. I mean, I don’t know what any of them actually wants to do. You never know until and individual gets into office anyways.
I really have nothing to write about…
Graceandpeace
~Ross
Im in my room. SHowered, packed, and ready to go.
I don’t know whats awaiting me in Toronto. I am really hoping for somehting. This trip has really been built up. I would hate for it to be bland. Of course, I can’t put any expectations on it. Pat calls us the “Church of Whatever.” Not what ever in a passive sense, but in the dynamic. We never know what God will do in any given situation. but we should be open to anything. Pat is kind of like that in general. He tends to sit back and watch and make the most of anything that happens. I’m hoping that has rubed off on me over the summer. Certianly Im nervous. I guess its time to get up and get dressed.
Please take some time to pray.
Graceandpeace
~Ross~
I heard a Brother rat this summer make an interesting observation. I think it is in step with the feelings of most of the Corps. He said that it seems like that VMI is in a state of transition. That as each class comes through, they see a little bit more of what once was, go away. My Dykes were the last class to Break Out on the Hill. While my Breakout was strenuous, and we did do the first Howitzer drag up ‘Supes Hill, there needed to be something more too it. I hazard to say that 2007 was the last class in Barracks.
That has been said of several classes of course. It is an odd feeling, sitting at the dawn of a new era, and to be staring back at the old. I don’t like it.
This would be easier to handle if there future didn’t look so grim. The changes are being felt this year. The pressure from the Administration has been severe, and the Corps is beginning to push back.
This year started on a highnote. I had great expectation out of ‘09. It wouldn’t take much to out do ‘08 though. I know that almost all of my BR’s in Cadre positions take the job almost like a Religion. They are locked in to their mission with a tenacity and a level of integrity that makes me proud to be associated with them within the class system. But then things got weird.
The Administration locked down on privileges. I can’t take Haydowns for playing drums for formations, unless I play three times a week. then I can have one on Saturday. Permits are not going through like they used too. Privileges don’t exist anymore. They just don’t. I know thirds who got boned while on guard for taking the haydown, that they are allowed to take. The response from COL Trumps was “In My day we didn’t have any haydowns ever.” Well I know they had them, I’ve read countless primary resources that mention them, from “his day”, and before.
Other things came down too. One of the more irking was a new limit to the size of computer monitors. I personally don’t care, but there are several individuals who have had to get rid of very expensive monitors because of these new stipulations. 19 inches is barely larger than the laptop I am typing on right now. It would suck to be an engineer who needs to have blueprints, and schematics layed out on their computer screen.
A much larger issue has been the new latelights restrictions. Weeknight taps is a halfhour later this year. This doesn’t mean anything. The reason cadets don’t care about this is because we can not have late lights past 2 am in barracks. We also can not go out to late study in an Academic Building past that. Infact, we were told don’t bother asking, there are no circumstances that will get them approved. So know we have less time to study. No reasonable answer has been given for this change.
Next came other changes. Morning Room inspections have become stricter. I know a guy who received 150 demerits in one inspection. The newer inspectors do not understand “MI Order”, and the Commandant’s staff has been backing them up on these horrible inspections.
The Ratline is truly a joke now. You cannot rasie your hands above your shoulders to correct a ratt’s strain. no more “claw”. This is ridiculous. The Rats dont strain because they don’t know what it is. I learned to strain by having 3 to 5 cadre in my face, screaming in my ears, putting their hands in my face, making me pinch their hand’s with my shoulder blades. Now the RDc can be suspended for that.
If an upperclassman looks at a rat too menacingly, they can be OGA’ed. This is not an exaggeration, this is happening! The Rats are running barracks more than the 1st class!
There has been no noticeable leadership from the 1st class. They have been going along with this, atleast their leadership has. I know many of the privates are fanatically upset.
Yesterday night a petition was posted on the bulletin board in 1st stoop sallyport. I am going to recreate it here:
LEADERSHIP more or less
1)We are tired of the hypocrisies of CADET LEADERSHIP… we give ideas, Commandant’s Staff shoots them down.
2) How much of the ratline is what the 1st class wanted???
3) Load us with more mil duties but restrict our study time (1:30 rule).
4) VMI is not a service academy. It’s better! Cadre are being watched too closely, OGA is no longer seen as a viable organization (but a babysitter). Our school is going in whatever direction the Superintendent and Commandant want. That direction will not be something so prized by us.. the FUTURE ALUMNI OF THE GREATEST MILITARY SCHOOL IN THE NATION!
You have taken away the power for us to complain formally (without punishment, or a total lack of interest) and made us shelter behind smart remarks and humor pages. WHEN WILL IT END!!!??? Maybe for once you will embody the leaders that you so often qoute and LISTEN!!!
This was followed by several signatures that grew to over three full pages by the end of the night.
Everyother conversation in barracks centers around a step off. There is no trustworthy leadership. They have lost the faith of the Cadets. They claim we are not to be trusted. i don’t trust them or their interest. VMI must fight for itself. It will not be long before the Corps is heard from if changes are not made.
I am sure that every alumni may be thinking that i should stop complaining, but it is not just me. Also times are different. I have had countless inspections and trainings that were unnecessary that have taken away form my academics. i enjoyed life as a thirdclassman more than a second.
We come to VMI because we wanted something tougher. If you do not want this, then leave my school. I have no use for you. But if you want to learn to persevere, and how to lead others, come here. Yes it seems initially barbaric, but I understand i have to treat people different than how i treat a RAT. A rat has volunteered to be punished, initiated, and ultimately molded. i will flame rats while here, and i will punish and council them for discrepencies. i will not treat my shoulder in that way as an officer, although i will extract the standard from them, I understand the difference in methods, we all do.
Leave us alone, you do not understand us. You don’t have too.
Completed a 17+ mile forcemarch for preservation on saturday. Had a great time with the guys on the VMI CWRT leadership, and meeting some new pards with the CMF. Good group of guys, with some insightful knowledge of the Battle of Antietam. We beasted the original pace, doing the first 10 miles in two and a hlaf hours. The second half of the march we slowed it up slightly, trying to keep the blisters and heat casualties down. The fording of the Potomac goes down as one of my reenacting highlights.
Busy busy busy has been my life, trying to shake off the soreness of this weekend. Ultimate practice will be nice, get my legs feeling looser hopefully. Ive got guard tonight and tomorrow, should give me good study time I hope.
There have been lots of changes to our schedules this year that I will be touching on in a later posts. Right now im trying to enjoy a relatively light morning. Ive got am andatory speaker coming up here soon, then lunch and class, then practice, probably try and hit the weights before hand.
i’ll leave you with this gem
Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net
~Ross~
