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It took me longer than I anticipated to get motivated to upload this picture, but you're probably not suprised.

This is our photo from the 60th Anniversary Air Force Ball earlier this month. We actually only took a couple of pictures, because the hangar was a bit dark.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Air Force. To mark the date we are going to the Air Force Ball on base. It is being held inside a hangar. We've been to these before, while we were at McChord. Sometimes they were great fun, but once the band was really terrible and we left early.

These events have a speaker, usually some high-ranking visitor. There are also introductions of all the top-ranking attendees and their spouses, including any city leaders who may be in attendance. I may be getting my Air Force dress-up events mixed up, but I think there is usually a video of the contributions and accomplishments of the particular wing (base).

Then there is food. Usually it looks better than it tastes, but it tastes pretty good with a little (or more) salt added. This is usually done buffet-style, and I always carefully avoid any beef or fish items, as they are usually overcooked to a criminal degree.

But of course the best part is getting all dressed up. Most people don't get to dress up for any function in adulthood. So this is the big chance! This year I had the luxury of choice without spending any money. I have three dresses to choose from, one being a gift from my sister. THe other two I have worn in the past (gasp!) but can wear again. (Having not worn them in the company of anybody who will be attending this event, sans Bryan.)

The boys will be watched after by two of our good friends at our house. Caleb was already telling me to go to my grown-ups party yesterday so they could come over, so I think he won't have any trouble. Over the last several months, he and Micah have had a few babysitters they know from church, and he's always been good with them. Micah tends to be the more high-maintenance of the two, but he usually does well. To tell the truth, we often wait to go out until after he's been put to bed to make it easier on the sitter, but this is one time when we don't have that as an option. However, since it will be a couple who will be with them, they should have little or no trouble with it.

It is true that children behave better for sitters than for their parents. At least in this house. I'm sure it's the novelty of having "friends" over to play who aren't bossing them around every day! :)

So now I have a lot of things to do to get myself and my kiddies ready, and I will close this by saying that I [holding up right hand, which makes typing harder] will take pictures and post them ASAP.

Today we have a lot of work to do. By we, I mean me. Caleb is not always as helpful as he looks or as much as he'd like to be sometimes. The house is an utter disaster. I've made a dent in the kitchen/dining area this morning, but there's a lot more to do.

It's amazing how much harder it is to get/keep anything clean with two kids in the house. And lately Caleb, in his spirit of creativity, has been making "houses" out of pretty much every book and toy in his room. And while they are truly a marvel in engineering, they take up almost all the floor space and all my patience.

I talked to Bryan last night. He went to the ceremony for that general yesterday. Apparently this is a big deal called The Order of the Sword.

He told his mom the potentially "big news". If you don't know what I'm talking about, you will in time. We have some people in the loop, but we're holding onto it for now, until God reveals more to us. Let's just say it would be life-changing.

I am so tired this morning. I couldn't go to sleep last night until after two. We talked to Bryan a little yesterday (we missed talking to him while getting freebie merry-go-round rides). He did explain to me that not all the bases sent airmen for this general's ceremony, but 11 bases in the command did. He also adjusted his estimate of 30 airmen to 40 from our base. He said that we are one of the bigger bases and the others probably sent fewer, which I had guessed yesterday.

But he had some insight on the cost. Here are the cost factors:

• Jet fuel (He estimated a conservative 80,000lb for his flight)
  
• Lodging costs
• Per diem
• Air crew man hours
• Attendee man hours lost

Another cost that would be hard to pin down is the cost of the award itself. Here's what I've come up with...

When Bryan won the Wing Airman of the Quarter, the award was a large, scale model (1:100) C-17 on a custom wood pedestal. The plane part is from the Boeing Store, and retails for $275. The custom wood base, we'll say $40 including the engraving. So $315 for Airman of the Quarter, of which there are dozens around the world.

Ok, now how much more do you think the Air Force would spend on a retiring general who's given probably about 30 years of his life in service? Of course, we can only guess. But there is a cost there.

I just hate when the government misuses the American tax dollars. I am sure the Air Force had the money allotted to them for some such purpose. But you know, that's enough to pay Bryan's (E-5, 4-6 years in service) salary more than 90 times*. I just think that the money could be used in a more responsible way.



*And you're probably not aware of "force shaping" - the Air Force has cut about 20,000 of enlisted and officer jobs in just the last year. The efforts have been in place since 2004, I think.

As I type this, Bryan is someplace between here and Illinois. He had to go "be the rent-a-crowd," as he likes to put it. Some big general is getting some big award from the enlisted, so the Air Force sent people from many (all?) bases to witness the proceedings. I think they are also going to be there for a change-of-command ceremony the following day, but I'm not sure on that part.

I really can't count how many of these short TDYs Bryan has been gone for, but I do know this is the first one I thought was really dumb. I'm not complaining, really, just pointing out the fact that it's dumb. Here is why:

1. The general is not going to personally meet every airman there. They could all be from the same base, and I doubt he would notice. (The "Who Cares" Factor)
   
2. Approximately thirty people from our base are en route to this function. While this hardly makes a dent in the base population, I'm sure the loss will be felt at their respective jobs for the days they are gone. (The "Time Waste" Factor)
   
3. Imagine the cost of flying roughly thirty people from California to Illinois on military transport jet, or worse, a cargo jet. There are roughly 44 bases in the contiguous United States. How many more are sending troops to this ceremony, and at what cost to taxpayers? (The "Money Waste" Factor)

So, I think it's dumb. My personal motto, which I came up with years ago, is "It's the Air Force, it doesn't HAVE to make sense!" (All the Army wives I've met seem to agree it's the same way in the Army.) But, even though it's dumb, it's Bryan's job and so it is.

So, the Air Force, being part of the United States Government, doesn't call its Christmas party by that name. It's a Holiday party. Never mind that there's a Christmas tree (no angel on top) and Santa Claus is going down a chimney on the front cover of the program. They do have a chaplain who prays to God before the meal, and he doesn't mention Jesus.

Anyway, we went to the party Bryan's squadron threw last night. We sat with a couple I didn't know, as well as a couple of married guys whose wives were not in attendance. I do know those guys and like them. They helped us move from our townhouse on base to this house in one day.

I also knew another couple and chatted with the wife for a bit. She's really nice and coincidentally (or not) was the childcare provider we placed Caleb with when we first got here while we moved into our townhouse. (Later I found out her husband works with Bryan.)

Anyway, the party was nice. They had a "scavenger hunt" which is a combination of a scavenger hunt and musical chairs. Fourteen people from various tables sit in fourteen chairs and as items are read off a "Twas the Night Before Christmas" style poem, they run around like mad trying to collect the item from somebody else in the room and run back to claim a remaining chair. The chairs are taken away one by one until there is a winner. The prize this time was a bottle of wine.

There had been some voting during the past few weeks at work for who should dress up as Santa and the Elf (but its' a "Holiday" party) and the winners (or losers, really) then held a drawing for a variety of prizes, ranging from a manicure set to a 32" TV with dvd and vcr. There was also a raffle for an XBOX 360 for which Bryan had purchased a few tickets. (Not to own an XBOX, but to Ebay it for profit so he can buy a new guitar.) Nevertheless, we didn't win any of the prizes.

The booster club provided childcare for $10 per child. This was a great deal considering we were there for over three hours. Since Micah doesn't take bottles, I went to check on him once an hour or so. He did really well and was only barely crying the last time I went in there. I think it was more from being tired than hungry, because I'd fed him something of a snack when we first got there. He was the second-youngest baby there, another of Bryan's coworkers had a baby three months ago one month premature. She was a tiny doll-like baby... very cute.

So, all in all the CHRISTMAS PARTY was a nice outing for the three of us and a good way to spend the last full day home.

Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

Since I just posted a pic of Bryan where's he's barely visible, I'm also adding this one. It's a portrait that was taken for the Airman of the Year award he got for 2005. 

Bryan just sent me this picture from work. He marched with some fellow airmen from the base at the local Veteran's Day parade. It's hard to spot him here, but you can click on the picture to enlarge it. He's visible just left of the blue Air Force flag. 

How great is it to get a thank-you card in the mail? Especially when they're unexpected, I love getting notes like this. Now you can take 30 seconds out of your day to send a thank you card to a member of the military stationed overseas for free. Not an e-card, but a real post card.

Here's how:

The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through this site you have the opportunity to send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women.

The postcards, depicting patriotic scenes and hometown images, were selected from a pool of entries from children across the country.

All you have to do is click on your favorite design and either select the message that best expresses your sentiment or draft a personal note. The postcards are then printed on the Xerox iGen3^® Digital Production Press and mailed in care packages by military support organization Give2TheTroops^®.

Xerox is committed to helping people across the nation express their gratitude to our troops overseas. The launch of this program is aimed at reminding them how much Americans appreciate their service.

I just sent one, and you can too at www.letssaythanks.com