My parents are awesome grandparents. I got home from Iraq in late October and they came out to see "me" on the 1st of November. Actually, I think they came out to see the grandkids, but my homecoming was a good excuse. :-) Like I mentioned in my last entry, I think they ended up spending more time with the little ones than I did, but that's cool. They stayed with them for a couple of days in the middle of the week so we could go to Glen Ivy for an overnight trip. That was very much needed. We spent the day doing a whole lot of nothing. We sat in the hot tub a few times, visited Club Mud, and even tried out the Grotto toward the end of the afternoon.
(coffee break)
That was actually the second day we were gone. We got a late start on Wednesday, so we took our time getting up there and stopped along the way to shop and grab some lunch. We saw "Fireproof" that night and went out for dinner. While we were out shopping, I ended up with an entire new outfit from Old Navy. It should look pretty good. I'll probably wear it when the weather gets a little cooler. Jen bought some stuff for herself as well. All in all, it was a good getaway. We got home Thursday evening and met my folks (and kids) for dinner. They said the kids had a great time and they were glad to be able to help. We would've asked my MIL, but she's still working so she wasn't available for a mid-week outing like that.
My sister arrived on Saturday morning. Since my Dad had my car, I didn't have to get up early to go get her at the airport. =) Our birthday ball was that evening, which I addressed in my last post. We took family portraits on Sunday and went to Knott's Berry Farm on Tuesday to take advantage of their Veteran's Day special prices for military. Jen and I got in for free and everyone else got tickets for only $15 apiece. That's a great deal. We spent the whole day there and left after dark in search of dinner at Claim Jumper. We headed home after that and the kids and my sister did not make it all the way home without falling asleep. The next morning (Wednesday) I got up super early (4:30) to make coffee and to be ready to drive. My dad had said they might come over as early as 5:00 to be taken back up to LAX for their flight home. They didn't make it. We left the house just before 6 and I managed to get them up there by 8:15 or so. My sister sent me a text message from Indianapolis, so I guess they made their 9:15 flight. Anyway, that's a brief rundown of the last two weeks. I've been off of work the whole time and I have to go back on Monday. =( Still, it's been a decent two weeks and I'm very much glad to be home. If there's a bright spot to having to go back to work, I picked up my pass for the Coaster so I'll be able to ride the rails when I go to work.
Have a great weekend!
Friday, November 14
Sunday, November 9
... annnnd we're back
Alllrighty then... let's try to get caught up a bit. Let me start with last night and I'll work my way backwards. Last night was our Birthday Ball. For those of you not familiar with what that means, let me 'splain.
The Marine Corps was founded by a resolution of the Continental Congress on 10 November 1775. In 1921 General John A. LeJeune (13th Commandant of the Marine Corps) directed that all commands commemorate the birthday of the Corps with a special meal and a cake cutting ceremony. Over the years, that tradition has evolved into the Marine Corps ball.
Last night the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing upheld tradition and threw a ball at the Sheraton on Harbor Drive (near the airport). We attended and even brought another couple as our guests. Since it was the Wing HQ's ball, the entire 3rd MAW Band was there and they performed a motivating set before the actual ceremony started. The ceremony itself was just as I remembered all the ones I played in and the ones I've attended since leaving the band field. I saw a few of the bandsmen who were deployed with us this year and they all seem to be doing well. The guest of honor told two stories as preludes to his speech, which he never gave. He said the point of the ball wasn't to listen to some retired 3-star run his suck for 20 minutes, but to commemorate who we are and what we do. So we did.
After dinner the music got really loud so the four of us took a walk down by the harbor and talked for a bit until it got too cold and we returned to the hotel and ballroom. We managed to get in a couple of dances and left around 11. It was not a bad evening and our friends seemed to have a good time. Of course, the last time we took a civilian couple they ended up leaving for another job location and I haven't spoken to them since. I hope that doesn't happen this time.
I know what you're saying. "Wait a second. I thought they had two little kids. What happened to them?" Well, my parents have been in town for a week and they stayed with the kids for us. They've actually stayed with the kids probably more than I have during this time off from work, but that's where I'll start my next entry. Until then, have a great week and Happy Birthday, Chesty (wherever you are)!
The Marine Corps was founded by a resolution of the Continental Congress on 10 November 1775. In 1921 General John A. LeJeune (13th Commandant of the Marine Corps) directed that all commands commemorate the birthday of the Corps with a special meal and a cake cutting ceremony. Over the years, that tradition has evolved into the Marine Corps ball.
Last night the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing upheld tradition and threw a ball at the Sheraton on Harbor Drive (near the airport). We attended and even brought another couple as our guests. Since it was the Wing HQ's ball, the entire 3rd MAW Band was there and they performed a motivating set before the actual ceremony started. The ceremony itself was just as I remembered all the ones I played in and the ones I've attended since leaving the band field. I saw a few of the bandsmen who were deployed with us this year and they all seem to be doing well. The guest of honor told two stories as preludes to his speech, which he never gave. He said the point of the ball wasn't to listen to some retired 3-star run his suck for 20 minutes, but to commemorate who we are and what we do. So we did.
After dinner the music got really loud so the four of us took a walk down by the harbor and talked for a bit until it got too cold and we returned to the hotel and ballroom. We managed to get in a couple of dances and left around 11. It was not a bad evening and our friends seemed to have a good time. Of course, the last time we took a civilian couple they ended up leaving for another job location and I haven't spoken to them since. I hope that doesn't happen this time.
I know what you're saying. "Wait a second. I thought they had two little kids. What happened to them?" Well, my parents have been in town for a week and they stayed with the kids for us. They've actually stayed with the kids probably more than I have during this time off from work, but that's where I'll start my next entry. Until then, have a great week and Happy Birthday, Chesty (wherever you are)!
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