Our last supper

Our last supper in California was at Wood Ranch in Camarillo. I first found out about this barbecue point from Shelly. And then when Benny came home for Iraq, we went there all the time, especially with our Midwest friends, the Olsens.

This time, Scott and Debora, Chandler and Maddison, joined us. So it was a hopping good time with all the kids.

Mmmmm. Wood Ranch sweet potatoes. And macaroni and cheese. And tri-tip. My mouth is watering.

No more driving Topless

Benny and I made the final decision last night. Time was running out. So instead of selling my convertible Sebring nicknamed Topless as originally planned, we decided to store her at a lot in Long Beach, California.


The decision was a tough one since everyone (even people who aren't mechanically inclined like me) knows that storing a car for three years is the worst thing you can do for a vehicle. But after what seemed like a million phone calls to the personal storage lot, we were reassured by a few points:

1) My car will be stored in a covered spot

2) They will start and move my car every 30 days

So this morning, my friend Melinda and I caravaned to south Los Angeles to drop off Topless at the processing center. After 47 minutes, Topless was cleared for storage and Melinda and I were back in the thick of L.A. noon hour traffic. Pretty painless, I have to say.

Now if I can only remember to get my car of storage in three years .....

If you want to talk me before I fly to Japan

You need to call me soon. My cell phone is getting turned off on Saturday night in preparation for our Sunday morning flight to Okinawa.

I expect my phone will be ringing off the hook .....

Trying to catch up

To my loyal readers:

First of all, you are awesome. Many of you are wondering why the blog postings jumped from the snow-capped mountains of Nevada to the wild 1940s hair of the Seabee Ball. And there is a valid answer for all of this: I'm swamped under a sea of good ideas of blog postings, but no time to post them.

So in my head I have written these blogs and they are entertaining. But I have this feeling that I'm never going to get caught up. So instead of trying to go back and write all the blogs, I thought I would start at the Seabee Ball/Easter weekend and work my way both back and forth in time.

So be sure to check back often for the catching up blog postings.

Happy Easter everyone

We spent Easter with my grandmother, Lydia, who lives in San Diego.

Seabee Ball 2008

Even though Benny has checked out of NMCB 4, we still attended the annual Seabee Ball. We were in town anyway and we thought it was a great opportunity to party one last time with all of our battalion friends. Plus I'm always looking for an excuse for a new dress and a new hair do.



Sadly with all the packing, moving and farewell tour madness, I didn't have time to go shopping for a new evening gown. So instead I wore my old standard: a polka dotted dress I bought for Benny's Navy dining out (or is it a dining in?) when he was at Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. The dress still fits and I still love it, so it was a great deal.



An added bonus was the location of this year's ball: the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. I'm a huge nerd, so I've already been to the museum several times, but this was still special. They had tables set up in the Air Force One pavilion so we had a great view of the California hills at sunset. Much better than the warehouse on base they usually clean up for the Seabee Ball.

I almost had Elvis hair

What does everyone thinks of my 1940s pin-up girl hair do???

More photos from the Seabee Ball

My friend Shelly refers to the Seabee Ball as Navy Prom. As you can see from the following photos, it really is Navy Prom. The only difference is that at this prom, I can drink alcohol.

The pre-party in the hotel


Melinda, Alicia and I


On the other side of the room


The dinner


I'm the dancing queen of Seabee Ball