You know you're addicted to FIRST when...

[Justin]

...You come home from a weekend of volunteering at the UTC Regional realize that this year you can watch the NYC Regional on Sunday for that addtional FIRST fix!!

[BlondeNerd]

...When you seriously wonder if the keeper you got from a regional is allowed under the school dress code (as a skirt)

[hereaftermouse]

...when you start debuggin code that you haven't written yet.

(whoever said the thing about programming until you get a bloody nose - that happened to me)

[Otaku]

-When the only thing larger than your hard drive is your button collection.

-When you take off your saftey glasses and it feels like they're still on your face.

-When you wake up in the morning and realize that the robot that wasn't finished yesterday won't be finished today or the day after.

-When you lose your voice more than 6 times while cheering for your team or alliance.

-When you feel like your heart is going to stop because your team made it to the semifinals.

-You see nothing but a mill and random aluminum parts for 6 weeks starting in January.

-You can memorize team numbers from the alliances you were with last year (675, 670, 1120... 2006 "Aim High" Quarterfinalists, San Jose/Silicon Valley Regional)

-It's easier for you to remember FIRST team numbers or names than it is famous people or major "sports" teams.

-You think that FIRST (including FRC, FVC, and FLL) is the only real sport. (I think this because you actually have to work to get to compete, then you get to watch the fruits of your labor perform a challenge, plus all of the time and energy put in before the competitions even start.)

-You start seeing orange and black hats in your sleep. (Curse you, Team 100!)

-You begin to think up new, crazy strategies, and they comply with the FIRST rules.

[Zyik]

-When you see Team 100 out of the corner of your eye everyday
- When you lose your voice at competition
- When you're heart seems to stop when you're picked
- And because of this you feel the installable urge to hug 100's mascot
- When you go home after competition, sleep for 15 hours, then get on CD
- When you spend 2 hours telling your World of Warcraft guild about FIRST
- And then try and get your Aussie friends to start a FIRST team

[cooker52]

...When you try to figure out why you didn't know about the earlier leagues in the first place. (Plus they quit that before I had the chance)
...When everyone at school knows you from the articles in the news paper.
...When all people can ask you about is your robot.
..When you come up with ways to make your robot lighter after regionals. (we were right at the 120 lbs limit, then the guy went "let out the air", and it actually work)
...When the first thing you do everyday is checkout chiefdelphi.
...When you find out ways to apply robotics to Boy Scouts.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by cooker52

...When you find out ways to apply robotics to Boy Scouts.

When you come up with ways to get Boy Scouts to a robotics event (Yes, I did that--SCRRF Fall Classic.)

[waiakea11]

-when you finally get back home from your regional, and go through robotics withdrawls.

-when you discuss the next time your group is meeting on the plane because everyone will miss each other.

-you cheer (even with an airport filled with people) at the fact that you got money to attend the nationals in atlanta.

-you hope that your whole team will be able to make it to atlanta, because it wouldnt be the same withought everyone.

-you start telling everyone the inside jokes that happened on the trip and they dont seem as interested as you thought they would.

-you keep your cell phone on all night the night you get back, thinking someone will call you in the middle of the night.

-you have a hard time adjusting to the time zone changes...

[waiakea2024]

ha ha. time zone chages i havent adjusted to hawaii time again. im still on california time for waking up and hawaii time for going to sleep. therefore i havent gotten much sleep last night scince we got home. but hey your not a true robotics student unless you have been through sleep deprivation.

[cooker52]

I went through all of the main time zones here in the states in about 9 weeks. I adjusted, I forget how fast, but what I remember is that I always fell asleep at sunset.

You know your addicted to first when...

...you wonder why you don't meet more before the nationals.
...You figure out how soon the nationals are comming up.
...You figure out how to convince your parents to let you stay later next year.

[dipmeinaluminum]

I know your addicted to first when...

I get a tattoo of the innovation controller. and yeah it did hurt.

[Jeff Rodriguez]

...you give presentations about FIRST in spanish class.

[ALIBI]

.... my two teenage sons start calling off team names as the speedometer goes up while driving down the road. My youngest wants to be able to say "WildStang"! Although, most times I prefer the "Beast" or "Hot"! Maybe someday I'll treat the kids to the "WO-BOT"!

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Ogre

...you give presentations about FIRST in spanish class.

Tehehehehe

I'm doing a persuasive speaking speech on FIRST in about 2 hours. Attention grabber, proof of authority, etc.

[Otaku]

Originally Posted by dipmeinaluminum

I know your addicted to first when...

I get a tattoo of the innovation controller. and yeah it did hurt.

I saw that, and it was AWESOME.