Long weekend

Last week I had Friday off...as some of you know, this is a little frustrating.  Working out logistics with the family I nanny for has been tough.  However, I did nanny for them last Sunday to make up for it.l

On our Friday off we decided to make a trip to the mall.  E had to get some black shirts for working at Starbucks and I'd never been to the mall here.  While out and about we had lunch at this cool pizza place where all the pizzas are personal sized and made to order...and very yummy :)  While sitting down for lunch I glanced at my phone and noticed I had a missed call and voice mail.  It was the background check guy! I called him back right away but no answer.  So I left a message and turned my phone up all the way loud while we continued to walk around the mall.  I eventually got the call back and spent about 20 minutes on the phone. Wooo! Yay! My part is over! One step closer!!

One of the guys from church who works at the academy told E in an email that considering how far along he is in the process  that he should expect to be in the next round at the academy.  How exciting! I know it seems like I say the same thing every time I post, but it is finally starting to feel close to possible.

On Saturday E was gone for drill during the day and then came to get me in the evening for the dinning out.  We went to the VA in Tacoma and I finally got to meet more people than the Captain and his wife.  This was also my first experience being a part of a receiving line (if you ever go through one, please don't stare deeply into people's eyes even after you finish shaking hands...) and also my first time seeing a grog bowl.  For any of you who do not know, a grog bowl is a giant drinking game/mockery of Army buracracy (I heard someone else point out the whole mockery of Army buracracy part).  There are three bowls at the front of the room. Two are filled with punch and alcohol, and the other has no alcohol for those who choose not to drink.  They even do this little ceremony where they tell you the significance behind each item they put in the bowl as they do so. The president is the company commander, and there is a Mr. Vice president and a Ms. Vice president.  And then there are rules.  Such as if any guest gets up all the soldiers at the table have to get up.  The lowest ranking soldier has to charge all the glasses at the table.  If anyone wishes to address the president they have to address him as Mr. President and request permission to speak.  You may not leave the room (even to go to the restroom) without asking permission.  And the president can make up any rules at any time for any reason.  If you break a rule you have to go to the grog bowl salute it and every corner of the room, drink and hold the cup over your head.  Thankfully guests did not have to participate/go to the grog bowl.  Only their soldiers did if their guests messed up.  I didn't mess up for E's sake.  Overall the night felt silly and fun.  The president had a lot of fun calling people out for silly infractions and coming up with other punishments as well...like singing the itsy bitsy spider in front of everyone, or making someone taste the food before we ate to make sure it wasn't poisoned.  The night was much less formal than I had expected it to be.  It was nice.

Sunday E had drill again all day.  He didn't come home until late in the evening.  So I watched movies and crocheted! I made chunky slipper socks and almost finished before I ran out of yarn...poo.

Now I'm nannying...and both parents are home for the WHOLE day.  It's weird enough with one parent, now I have two watching every move I make.  But I am thankful for the job that I have.  That is for sure.

Hopefully the next time I post I have something really exciting to share!!