0515 Got up,  put on running shorts, grabbed Joe’s socks by mistake, cheech, give me a break, bro, it’s hard to see in the dark.

0530 Reveille, fell out  into the passageway after Joe  bumped me by mistake. All right already, I’m here!

0540 Formation for Plebe Phys Ed after making rack. Still can’t get that damn quarter to bounce off it! Question of the day is why?

0600 Phys Ed drills  for 1 hour.

0700 Showered, shaved, got into uniform, memorized Navy rates for the day, menu, and several newspaper articles  to shout for uppity uppers before breakfast. My voice will never be the same again, if I even have one after 4 years of this.

0745 Morning  formation and breakfast. Standing excessive time at attention not at all difficult, but sitting braced with my neck into  my chest at attention  while eating is kind of hard. Almost slipped off the first front 3 inches of the chair, AGAIN!

I’ve heard of square  meals  but do they have to take it literally?Yelled at by firsties at table for being clumsy and spilling scrambled eggs on the table not to mention my uniform. Can I help it if I can’t raise or lower my head to see what I’m doing when trying to move that fork up and down in  a mathematical rectangle?

0845 Morning classes, but am getting a bit  tired of all the history and surface  stuff. Give me Subs  already!

1145 Recited Navy rates for Squad Leader on request. How should I know what came first, the chicken or the egg? And what on earth has it to do with the Navy? I know all this hazing stuff is supposed to make men of us, but I only come away from it feeling humiliated and abused. But take it I must.  I’m not going to get all whimpy like some of my classmates . Get a grip guys. It’s not the end of the world. You knew what you were getting into when you applied!

1210 Noon meal formation and lunch. It was called Meatloaf. Could have fooled me.

1300 Afternoon classes and specialized  training. Brain and body exhausted. I am way out of my league here. Sometimes wonder if I should have simply gone through ROTC at another college. They have  courses in electrical engineering, don’t  they?   Belay that Crane! Don’t second guess your choice to apply here. You were damn lucky to get in ! This is  NOT being away at college. This is the Navy!

1600 Intramural/varsity sports practice.  This place lives for physical activity. But, I have to ask, will I really be  required  to jump hurdles aboard a submarine? Well, maybe  the knee knockers.

1700 Evening meal formation and dinner. Mystery meat lives! Worse than high school's or Aunt Abby's.  Even Mom would complain! At least this meal's buffet style  and  even  at attention, constantly it seems, at least we lowly plebes can come and go as we like and even sit where we like  for this meal.  Doesn’t keep the firsties from nailing us with everything from 5 o’clock shadow and being better suited for WestPoint, etc. You just can’t win.  

1900 Permission sought and approved for some short order drills practice. Now I really am convinced I’m clumsy.

1930 Study time, like they really have to tell us??

2110 Personal time. Did punishment tour . There is no way I'll be able to work off these demerits! Learned some new slang from one of the mess cooks when he heard about my complaint about the meatlof. (York , York! ) which means "You're absolutely right, Commander!"  He was jesting, but you know, it made me feel good being called Commander. And one day, I will be.

Studied, wrote home, studied, lamented our fates as bilge rats for the duration, studied, pleaded with Joe  for a homemade cookie his Mom sent. Studied, showered, shaved again, and  snuck one of his cookies hoping he won’t notice. Even if he does, I’ll give myself 5 demerits anyway. Wondering what tonight’s dreams will bring. Hope it’s not  about that movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea again. Can’t hold a candle to today’s boats. Somebody really ought to make an updated sub movie, maybe a tv series!

2300 TAPS (Unfair, unfair, unfair. Not enough hours in the day! Firsties get to stay up till 2400 so it's true about rank having it's privileges) It may be lights out in our room, but my flashlight’s working just fine under the blankets. I have got to get these chapters read!