Marine Corps Ball 2008

One of the more well known traditions in the Marine Corps is the Birthday Ball. Our celebration of the Marine Corps birthday has been consistent over the years, but it's changed. Gone are the days of breakfast after the ball, helping close down the dance floor and being around to witness some of the more interesting events that often occur late into the evening. Now it's ceremony, dinner, and leaving 20 minutes after the lights dim.

We are old.

Apparently we've been old for several balls now.

However this year we took some friends. Well, we took some people we've been growing and figured after last year's fiasco we needed to ensure we were not sitting at a huge round table all alone in a giant ball room. Perhaps I'll write about that later. A memorable ball to say the least. Anyway, back to the present.

We dressed up Recruits 1 and 2 and took them as our "people". Here they are heading towards the big green beast to leave. It's VERY cold here.

Recruit 1 decided she needed a last minute fix before we left.


And by fix I mean a last shot of hairspray. She had her guard instructor roll her hair the night before. I was sick. Still am sick. I feel really really rotten, so I was greatful the Guard Guru (here after known as GG) took on the rolling of the hair. And there is a lot of hair. ALOT. The Guard Guru was afraid she hadn't rolled it tight enough. Recruit 1 snorted when I told her about GG's concern.

She retorted that GG had rolled her hair the way she rolled lumpia! She didn't sleep hardly at all because her eyes were pulled toward the back of her head.



Recruit 1 had been at school all day and she still had fabulous curls. Check out the back!

This was after being at the ball for a little while. Good job GG! and THANK YOU. I was curled up in a ball moaning....

Recruit 1 took my picture before we left and I want everyone to recognize the fact that SOMEONE had to look at me to take this picture. You would think SOMEONE would have told me to get the lipstick off my teeth. That is one of the sacred rules of womanhood. We will always give each other the toothsign. Apparently Recruit 1 has not read that rule yet.

You can't see my dress well, but that's okay, if you saw me at the last 6 balls I've attended you've already seen it. Another thing that has changed. I just don't need a new ball gown every year. Braces and groceries seemed to have taken precedent... I think I might get one for next year though. Just because.

Outside the convention center. You know it's time to retire when you have no more room on your chest. Check out the pineapple on his chevron. That's the emblem in the center of the scarlet and gold stripes on his sleave. It's actually a bursting bomb but it looks like a pineapple.... He doens't like me to say that, the pineapple part that is.

2, Recruit 2.

He was so handsome in his tux. It's his first tuxedo to wear. He even got a hair cut for me too that day. What a cute boy!!!

All alone at the table . That is just wrong.

He really seemed to enjoy the ceremony. The Commandant's message was motivating. Maybe too motivating. This one already wants to wear the uniform.

No comment.

Still curly.

Yes these are gratuitous pictures I've put up but I just think they dress up so nicely!

Like lifesize Ken and Barbie.

Getting Recruit 2 to dance with us.


Waiting to go get dinner.


Not so cute here, but I thought it was funny. How bright does a flash get in a dark ball room?

Pretty darn bright.

The Captain wanted a section picture. So here they are trying to get their picture taken when a poor, unsuspecting Marine, who was rather clueless walked right between myself and the Marines lined up on the wall for the picture. Quite a few people were standing off to the sides waiting.

The Marine is explaining to him the grave error he has made. He was actually very apologetic and I think the Marine was messing with him.

I think.

Maybe.

Some line dance.

I"m looking at Recruit 2's feet. Recruit 1 looks like she should be in the new movie Twilight...

I'm thinking I was really something here. Recruit 2 was very nonchalant as he did the line dance.

He is SOOO COOL!

Hmm, looks like they are laughing at me. I'm sure that wasn't it.

Why does it look like The Marine is holding Recruit 2 hostage for the photo? The firm grip around the neck.

Can't really think of anything clever to say. It must be all the gunk rolling around in my sinus passages. However it's not a clever picture. Pretty straight forward. Mother-daughter pose. Thank goodness you can't see all my crow's feet. See, no clever here, just old age angst.

And a pretty Recruit.

Mother-Son picture. Have to keep things equal.

Secret Agent pose

Recruit 2 pulls it off. I don't. I'm not sure what I'm pulling off here, but it scares me a little bit.

This picture was the clue it was time to go. In fact during dinner they both looked like this while the Marine communicated only with his plate. It left me to carry the conversation with a Sgt, his wife, and a brand new PFC who had only been in the Marine Corps since February. Having a Master Guns at your table DID NOT facilitate chatty conversation. I'm good, but not that good. I could have killed all three of them.

So another Birthday Ball. The Marine was part of the committee to put this one on. It turned out beautiful. We left about 9. Recruit 1 kept reminding me she had French homework and Recruit 2 was ready to head out. He was was bored. I felt terrible anyway, so we left before the shenanigans got too way out of hand.