D's Diary: Danielle Page's Look into Husker Life

Sept. 1, 2007

Wow!!!  Summer went by so quickly.  I think this year was the quickest it has ever gone by since I have been at Nebraska.  I‘ve been keeping really busy, so the time has flown.  But looking back at the summer makes me remember all the good times that I have had.

 

I started off the summer by heading to Virginia to see my Dad and his family.  I love going out there because it is so laid back and relaxed.  Also, I love getting a chance to see my two youngest brothers, Cliff and Brady, and my step mom, Di. 

 

While I was out there I got a chance to head up to Massachusetts where my Dad's family lives. I got to see them and went to a Red Sox game. 

 

Now, if you've never been to FenwayPark, put it on the list of things to do before the Nebraska women's basketball season starts.  It's amazing. 

 

My Grandfather, Dad, and I went early to see batting practice.  We missed the Sox warming up, but caught the Orioles on the field.  Well, we decided that it would be fun to catch a foul ball that one of the O's hit.  We stood down the third base line for what seemed like forever, when Dad told me he needed a picture of me with the field in the background. 

 

We had been standing for so long without a ball being hit our way that taking a picture would not be dangerous or so we thought.  Well, of course as soon as I turn around to take the picture, I hear the crack of a bat.  I turn back around just in time to see a foul ball come screaming at my head.  I ducked seconds before it would have hit me.  I look up after I hear it hit the bleachers behind me and see a guy getting ready to pounce on it. 

 

Well, this ball nearly killed me so I decided that I had to have it as a souvenir.  I snatched it right out from under him before he could extend his hands to get it.  Now with my keepsake, we settle down and get to our seats before the game begins.  The game turns out to be a blow out, with the good guys (Red Sox) winning.  As a small side note, I just want to say, BOO Yankees....Go Sox!!!

 

After that I headed back to Virginia to spend a little more time with the family.  Then I headed to Colorado to see my Mom and other brother Britain.  We took a little vacation to Mexico.

 

We went to Puerto Vallarta and stayed in an all inclusive resort there.  This was dangerous because for those of you, who know me, know that I LOVE food.  And this resort had great food.  For an entire week I did three things: sleep, lie by the pool, and eat.  There were waiters at the pool who would bring you whatever food you wanted.  I don't think I have ever eaten so many quesadillas in such a short timeframe in my life. 

 

Also another dangerous element to this all inclusive resort was that room service was included too.  So every night around 10:30, I would order a pizza and nachos, and my brother and I would split them (I say split them, but he is a 12 year old...who do you think ate the majority of the food?!?).  Then My mom and me would wake up in the morning and go for jogs or run some 33's on this beat up old court next to the hotel (I will explain what 33's are later).

 

When that fun trip was over I headed back to Nebraska to start my summer school classes.  I took Interviewing the first five-week session and Abnormal Psychology and Women in Pop Culture (Another small side note, I know it sounds like an easy “A” kinda course, but I learned so much) in the second five week session.

 

When I was not in class or working out, I was mostly hanging out with friends.  Bober (Nikki Bober), Mo (Kelsey Griffin), Kala (Kuhlman), and I hung out a lot together during the first five-week session just doing random things.

 

After a fun Fourth of July in Murdock, Neb., Mo, Bober, Kala, and I headed to Charter Oak, Iowa later in the week to see Kala's hometown.  And Kala was so kind and let me drive her Black Mustang convertible all the way there.  This of course was not without incident.  A mere 30 minutes outside of Charter Oak, a great big deer decides that it would be a good idea to jump in front of this gorgeous automobile.  Well I see it just in time and miss it by mere inches. 

 

Kala seemed excited that I was such a calm driver and didn't swerve in the face of danger...but what she couldn't see was I felt nothing but sheer panic as I envisioned the deer totaling the Mustang in my mind!!!  But we made it safe and sound without a scratch on the car.  It was fun to meet Kala's family and see where she comes from. 

 

Also it corrected my false perceptions of the Iowa farmers.  Kala lives on a farm, but not your stereotypical farm.  Although she has a barn, it is mostly used for basketball (complete with a half court and hoop) and softball (complete with batting cage and pitching machine).  And her house was amazing. It was so modern, not exactly what I expected to see on an Iowa farm.  Plasma TVs, hot tub, and a pool table are just a couple of the highlights.

 

After we got back from Iowa the first five weeks were just about over.  So I had to say goodbye to most of my teammates who were going home for the second five-week session.

  

Nothing too exciting happened during the second five-week session other than my brother Britain came out from Colorado to spend a week with me.  Also I became a true Cornhusker when I visited the cornfields of Murdock to pick and husk corn for dinner with the Bobers.

 

Meanwhile, while I was having all this fun, I was also trying to improve my basketball skills.  The team lifted and played pickup four times a week and conditioned and did agility workouts one day a week for the entire summer.  Also individually, Coach Yori wanted everyone to try to make 10,000 shots this summer.  So often Bober and I would spend a couple hours in the gym each week making our shots.

 

Conditioning is always grueling.  We have to make what we call the “Husker Mental Toughness Test” before practice begins.  This test consists of 12 33's.  33's are 5 ¾ court lengths in 36, 37, or 38 seconds depending on your position (in case you were wondering I'm a 38...thank goodness because I would have a lot more trouble with anything faster than that!!!). 

 

We started off running 6, then 8, then 10, then 12.  By the end of the first five everyone was running 12 33's.  Then in the second five-week session we ran 12 three more times.  It was painful but I will be much happier I ran than when we have the test next week.

 

But that's about it.  I am really looking forward to starting my senior year and getting to know all my new teammates.

 

Hope your summer was as fun as mine.

D