Yesterday, I went paintballing for the first time with the youth in our ward. We went at 5:30 pm, in L.A., on a Friday night. As you can imagine, however long MapQuest said it would take, it would really take twice as long to get there. We got to Hollywood Sports at 6:30. We then had to wait another hour for all of us to find each other, get our gear, and wait for the current match to end. When we got to the park, we saw guys in camoflauged Army jumpsuits, masks that looked like Master Chief, (see previous post) and paintball guns that looked like AK-47's. Our little group was wearing old college T's and hoodies, frumpy teal sweatshirts, grubbies, or Lake Michigan T's and blue jeans.
Wow.
So, when I put on the visor/helmet, I thought, "Whoa, I look like a commando," in my old, faded striped T-shirt, and faded, ripped-at-the-knees blue jeans.
?
So, we went into the instructional video kiosk, and found 10 minutes later that it was out of order, and that we needed to go to the next one down.
>:[
The video had intsructions like, 'Don't look down the barrel', 'don't bring drugs', 'don't take off your mask', and 'most importantly, just have fun.'
Gimme a break.
When we finally headed to the playing field, it was 8 freaking o'clock. The place was closing at 9 freaking o'clock. The administrator said we'd get to play two freaking games.
Grr...
When we started the first game, my heart was close to thumping out of my chest. I was breathing so hard that my visor fogged up in 2 minutes flat.
(:O
It was dark, my visor was fogged up, and the only distinquishing factor between teams was a dinky little piece of pink ribbon.
!!!
I was up in the sniper tower with a couple of teammates, when they started shooting at something. They were a couple of feet away. I had a better angle. I popped off a few rounds at the guy, then he shot a whole round at my face, but I ducked quick enough to see the ball with a smoke trail whizz above me, and smack into the tin wall across from me. Holy crap. I then found a little hidey hole, an opening between the tin sheet and the board holding it up, stuck my gun in it, popped off a round or two, and he ran away. However, I still hadn't plastered anybody.
>:I
After that round, I was totally fogged out I lika do da cha cha, I didn't even know who won, my adrenaline was making me jittery (I think I was a little shell shocked), and it was really dark.
<:[
This round, I just sat in a bunker trying to wipe off my visor without taking off my mask.
:/
It was fun, tiring, and adrenaline-filled, but everyone agreed we ought to do it again, but in the middle of the day.
<(+_+)>
6 Grumpy Teen-O-Grams:
Your one chance to live like a video game hero, and you hid in the corner! Bummer.
Oh, and I likadothechacha, indeed.
its anna, sanders' little sister, and you should try airsofting instead of wussy paintball. airsoft is better. and your clothes don't get dirty with paint, just dirt.
Paintball has always sounded so fun. Like lasertag but far more intense, far more painful too.
Hey, it was your first time- you'll have more fun next time!
Yeah, that's what I was saying to Ma and Pa. It was was a bad first impression, but it was a good taster. I'm still confident that I'll kick butt like Master Chief next time.
I think that would be a great big kick! I've had dreams about playing "war" like that. Interesting how we love that adreneline flow so much. but if it was real? Easy to see what post war stress is all about! Play again, but never make it real! (If you can help it!!)
If it was real, I wouldn't be there. I'm actually more of a wuss than most people think.
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