Arwen's Realm

[Arwen]

I thought about putting this post in "College Life", but it fits here as well (and this forum is currently empty, so it needs it more).

I'm on my university's varsity sailing team, and a competing member of the Inter-collegiate Sailing Association of North America.

Currently we're not practicing or competing, but are still working out as a team and having team meetings. But we are scheduled to return to the water and start practicing again by the end of February. The trouble is that my university is in New England and not in Florida - so water temperature in our bay will only be about 40F (4C). This past fall we sailed until Nov. 11th, and I froze from mid October on – when the water temperature was in the 50’s (12C). It was mostly cold because the air temperature is often colder than the water in the fall, and then you have wind chill, which is even worse when you are soaking wet (which happens when you sail a 13-foot racing boat, on a windy day). Our practices are usually 3 hours long, and I’m often wet within the first 10 minutes. In the late fall practices, I spent the last 2 – 2 ½ hours shivering – often violently. I love being on the team and sailing, but I also knew that I never want to be THAT cold ever again.

So I’ve been really stressing the return to the bay – when I’m going to be out in even colder conditions than what I nearly froze in my last semester. My coach (and other team members) have told me that I need to get a drysuit – which apparently is the only was to keep from being a frozen popsicle. In fact, my coach won’t let anyone sail who doesn’t own a drysuit until after Spring Break (which means the end of March). So I need to get a drysuit (and other cold weather sailing gear).

[Pc Avenger]

That sounds Fun

[Arwen]

Hey Pc Avenger! Goodness that was an old post . . . but it's nice that someone finally responded to it (this forum is so slow that I usually feel like I just talking to myself here).

Actually I wasn't able to sail last spring, as I was injured rather badly at team workout on Feb 14th . . . and rushed to the hospital, where it took three long metal pins to put my bones back together. Then I was stuck hobbling around on crutches until June.

It was sort of funny, in that I just purchased a brand new drysuit on the weekend before I was injured. (which is totally awesome, and which I refer to as "my space suit")

And yes, sailing is fun! I was able to practice and compete again last semester (through mid November) and we are scheduled to go back on the bay in about 4 weeks.

[Pc Avenger]

Man.....

[Pc Avenger]

Arwen, I have been reading your Bio, and... I am sorry about your parents and your brother. Nobody shoud pass what you passed. I am sorry....

[Arwen]

Arwen, I have been reading your Bio, and... I am sorry about your parents and your brother. Nobody shoud pass what you passed. I am sorry....

Thanks.

From what I'm learned from the experience that others have shared with me the last few years, it seems like everyone has tough things to get through in their lives. My life hasn't been easy, and I really wish that I could have changed some things. But I also know that I'm more fortunate than many. Overall, my life is pretty good.

[Pc Avenger]

So Arwen, how is it to be a Full-Time College Student?

[Arwen]

So Arwen, how is it to be a Full-Time College Student?

It's good . . . mostly, but a LOT of work!

Part of the problem is that I'm the type of person who gets totally involved in anything that I do. So I'm trying to complete a double major, while being a varsity athlete . .. which means that I have very little free time.
I'm now back in my dorm, and just returned from a couple of hours on campus, doing stuff like buying books, and meeting with my coach, and academic advisors. Classes start tomorrow (at 8 am for me).

[Pc Avenger]

Hey, I am not the newest registered user anymore!

[Muffeh]

Sounds like alot of work Arwen. And i think im the newest registered member

ill post more on this forum over the next days, just need to find some more recipes for the cafeteria section.

[Pc Avenger]

Hey Muffeh, well if you ask me, Arwen has the saddest story I ever heard. Just thinking about it makes me fell bad.

[Muffeh]

Hey Muffeh, well if you ask me, Arwen has the saddest story I ever heard. Just thinking about it makes me fell bad.

Ive read it, sad story indeed. Guess it goes for everyone, that for every day that passes, we pick up new baggage we need to carry with us for the rest of our life. Hope you are feeling better Arwen

*Get well hugsies*

[Arwen]

Hey Muffeh, well if you ask me, Arwen has the saddest story I ever heard. Just thinking about it makes me fell bad.

Ive read it, sad story indeed. Guess it goes for everyone, that for every day that passes, we pick up new baggage we need to carry with us for the rest of our life. Hope you are feeling better Arwen

*Get well hugsies*

Thanks, but I'm ok . . . well, most of the time. And I know others who have had to deal with equally difficult things . . . that's just part of life. Bad things happen to everyone . . . the challenge is not letting the few bad things ruin all the good parts.

I'm feeling fine . . . just a bit tired, as I just got back from an intensive team workout, followed from some grocery shopping (but the store was practically empty, as it's snowing here today).

[Pc Avenger]

Man, I wish hoolidays last At least a bit longer. This School Life is a torture to me! I can´t wait Retirement... Wife,House,Children, that will be when I´m 45. ah, maybe in another life.......

[Pc Avenger]

Just Kidding! Hey, Arwen´s Realm have become a much more Interesting place. More topics to visit. I Apriciate that.

[Muffeh]

ill try to post some stuff here, but been busy lately, more to come over the weekend

[Pc Avenger]

Hey, Arwen, I got a question: Did you ever considered about jumping from planes? Man... That´s some awsome Sport! I´am going to do it one day!

[Arwen]

Ummm . . .

NO.

I'm still haven't fully recovered from a fracture that happened a year ago - and that happened in my university's gym.

College sailing is intense enough for me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDToL593cmU (not my team, but these are the types of boats that we race and we practice in very similar conditions).

We're going back out on the bay in just a week - and it's still very much winter here. brrrrrr!

[Pc Avenger]

Look at This What do you think?

[Arwen]

Well, I'm NOT planing on joining the US Air Force.

Besides, I'd rather fly a plane than jump out of one.

[Xerius]

Exactly.

If necessary, jumping out of a plane is just something you do, but why abandon a perfectly good plane to walk on air for a few minutes.

Also my philosophy on sailing, as I cannot walk on water either.

[Arwen]

But, when you sail, the idea is to stay in the boat.

Do we always remain in the boats? Well, no. You do occasionally flip over when you sail a racing dingy, where the crew is the only ballast, and we sail in extreme conditions.

I cannot walk on water either. In fact, no one on my team can . . . that's why we all wear life jackets, and other survival gear, such as drysuits.

[Pc Avenger]

You are right. why jump from a plane when you can drive one. Being a pilot sounds great, but not everyone can be one. One day I am going to become one, If this forum still works, I will tell you how it is.

[Pc Avenger]

Lets go to bungee-jumping, what do you thing of that?

[Xerius]

But, when you sail, the idea is to stay in the boat.

Do we always remain in the boats? Well, no. You do occasionally flip over when you sail a racing dingy, where the crew is the only ballast, and we sail in extreme conditions.

Indeed, but as I can fly, or could until my eyesight did not allow me to renew my pilot's licence anymore, and I cannot swim, walking on air or water has much the same end result for me.

At least the air is dry.

Bungee jumping is not something I believe I would try though. Flying is a great deal of fun and it would be a dream to fly without mechanical aid, but tying my ankles to a rope and jumping with the sole purpose of putting stress on my spine simply feels unappealing.

[Muffeh]

i would love to bungee jump!

i need some action in my boring life

[Pc Avenger]

Hey everyone, How are things?

[Pc Avenger]

Everything is quiet, c'mon people, say something!

[xit]

Exam today!

[Arwen]

I'm in the middle of trying to pull together two thesis and a research paper, but I'll try to add something here in a day or two.

[Xerius]

I have nothing to say for myself.

Work is driving me into the ground.

[Pc Avenger]

Well, you know, you shoud get a break.

Nobody shoud work TOOO HARD.


Get some rest,when you feel up to it.

[Xerius]

This is the start of my busy season, so rest will come in October.

I troubleshoot power generation plants, and summer is when many of the plants do their maintainance, which means I end up doing a bit more travelling than I would prefer doing onsite consulting.

Add to that a new plant in the consideration stages in the province which is causing a lot of political noise and I end up having to play politics, something which I am very poor at, and I end up losing time from what I consider my real job to sit in meetings and report to commitees.

I guess it keeps me in cookies, but it also keeps me busier than I would like.

[Muffeh]

im off soon to meet my childhood friend at the china restaurant. tomorrow im of to the mall, my mate is buying a playstation 3. Oh, and im 3 thropys short of Platinum trophy on Fallout 3. Happy easter guys and gals!