When does it stop?

[JBotAlan]

What are you talking about? "Stop"? What is this..."stop"? FIRST doesn't stop...these months are for outreach, fundraisers, finishing the '07 code, prototyping for '08, dreaming about '09, getting pumped for '10, and cleaning up the random crap in the shop from '06, '05, '04, and '03.

But seriously, why should all the fun stop? There's off-season events, and plenty of ideas to explore before we're back in a build window. I don't plan on idling any time soon...

Ever since I got back from Championships, I've been wearing some form of teamwear every day. The day I came back, I wore a Panteras (what number are you guys? It's not on the shirt...) t-shirt, my team jacket, my team party wristband, and my "Pit Crew" badge from being the programmer during eliminations. To quote one of my friends, I'm "bathing in nerdiness"

Take all of that energy and put it to use making next year sweet!

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by JBotAlan

Take all of that energy and put it to use making next year sweet!

Word.

[Duke_of_Hazard]

It only stops when you stop caring....so hopefully it will never stop! On monday, when i had to go back to my mundane life of school, FIRST period, I pulled out my magazine and the first page it turns when i open it randomly is....71....then our teacher tells us 5 minutes later to turn to page 179....i was like..."is this some sick dream?? Thats our alliance!" Everyone looked at me funny, but maybe thats from having two medals clinking on my neck and a pink shirt on.....but seriously...it doesnt stop, like others said, you have outreach to recruit more students, mentors and sponsors....demos to show off your robot...off-season events to compete in...fundraising for the next season....and not to mention, reverse engineering and seeing what you can do better next year!

[Otaku]

It doesn't stop.

Heck, I'm going to a Lego Robot event next week (It's not associated with FLL, though) to help me cope with robotics withdrawals now that the season is over. I'm also CADding our chassis to help with withdrawals.

[TheIrishOne]

Originally Posted by Duke_of_Hazard

It only stops when you stop caring....so hopefully it will never stop! On monday, when i had to go back to my mundane life of school, FIRST period, I pulled out my magazine and the first page it turns when i open it randomly is....71....then our teacher tells us 5 minutes later to turn to page 179....i was like..."is this some sick dream?? Thats our alliance!" Everyone looked at me funny, but maybe thats from having two medals clinking on my neck and a pink shirt on.....but seriously...it doesnt stop, like others said, you have outreach to recruit more students, mentors and sponsors....demos to show off your robot...off-season events to compete in...fundraising for the next season....and not to mention, reverse engineering and seeing what you can do better next year!

Originally Posted by Mike Harrison

Then i look at gas prices and its like $2.17 and i'm like... i heart those guys

It's instance like these, and people like these, that make me smile. It helps me cope with the fact that I am a graduating senior and it makes me happy to know that there are other people out there that are EXACTLY like me. I know that FIRST will never end for me. I will do it forever. Hehehehe. But, seriously, that whole thing with seeing team numbers everywhere and feeling like they haunt you is a real thing. I often times compare myself to Drew Carrey in The Number 23, except instead of one number, I am haunted by the plethora of numbers that are FIRST.

[Scott Morgan]

I usually have a period after the competition where I can't sleep because I can't stop thinking about new designs. It usually stops after several days.

[silicon_ghoti]

My whole head is still in FIRST mode: I'm designing next years drive train & robot, thinking through who's robot did what, that we need to turn the robot a bit more to get it to see the rack, all that good stuff. And on top of that I have all my make-up homework to do which is a constant reminder.

And besides who can forget FIRST as: "Oink, Oink, BOOM!" "I say Kaptain, you say Crunch!" and "Red a-lli-ance!!" (To name a few.) Go through my head.

I don't think I'll ever get out of FIRST. Just waaaaay to much fun.

[ChristinaR]

It doesn't stop. Why would you want it to? For me, remembering my various memories from the season brings a smile to my face. So my dreams may be filled with designs, numbers, names- I wouldn't want it any other way. I would rather look at the clock and say "hey, it's 1:25...the NUtrons!" instead of "oh hey, it's only 1:25. hmph."
I'd much rather have people glance over and wonder why I have a goofy smile on my face when glancing at a banner advertising the 111th Boston Marathon (earlier this week), than them seeing me in my pre-FIRST demeanor.

Perhaps the most intense replays of the past weekend will dissipate in the coming weeks, but those memories will remain, as they should.


Edit: When I posted this, it was my 25th post. You know the first thing that came into my head? Raider Robotix. Wouldn't want it any other way.

[MGoelz]

Originally Posted by JBotAlan

The day I came back, I wore a Panteras (what number are you guys? It's not on the shirt...)

The Panteras are team #2283.

[cziggy343]

never, ever does it stop. you will be replaying those moments until u get new moments to fill them in with.

[T3_1565]

yeah it doesn't stop. ever. It hasn't stopped for me since the end of toronto's regional. I didn't even go to championships. I am almost scared as to what I would be doing the few days after if our team ever made it there lol I have also been CADing a prototype for '08 to keep me sane lol

[KelliV]

Nothing can ever stop your mind thinking about FIRST... it is like a train that just keeps on going forever and ever!
I went to art school, FIRST is still everywhere... from hairgel that only works after using it 116 times to the fact that to drive my teacher nuts when he asked what time it was I gave him FIRST team names... we started class at WildStang and he gave up and sent me home right after Thunderchickens.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

I had different dreams at a different time. I had dreams of winning big and making lifetime friends. This happened before Atlanta and I was hoping it was going to be deja vu... it wasn't. But I did meet some great and awesome people. I don't have dreams about it afterward though. You guys must be weird.