Breakout!

My daughter Hollywood sent me an email telling me their ratline PT is over! At dinner tonight they will have their belts removed and will "release their strain." Straining is what they have had to do since matriculation back in August. When in barracks they must hold their head, neck and shoulders in an awkward position known as straining. It is also referred to as the amount of exercise they are made to do. Today is the day they have all been looking forward to - breakout. After a lot of grueling physical challenges today, they are "breaking out of the ratline." They are no longer rats and have become part of the Corps. Hubby and I will be leaving at 5 a.m. to drive up and spend the day with her tomorrow. It has been a struggle and we are all relieved and grateful.

Hollywood Will Never Forget This Day

Today was a very big day for my oldest child and only daughter. She had the privilege of marching with the VMI Corps of Cadets in the Presidential Inauguration parade today. The conditions were very cold and the parade was delayed by several hours. I am sure she froze her buns off. But....I was able to see them live on C-Span - let me add that I was bawling as I watched it. See if you can spot her - she is somewhere in the sea of 1200 young fresh faces. She is the short one with the short brown hair. She's wearing the uniform with the white belt crossed in front with the red shawl. Oh and she's wearing a hat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07dI-6OO6ho

Mature?

Yesterday was my 24th anniversary at the bank. I've actually worked for 5 different banks but I've always reported to the same place. That's what happens in this industry where mergers and buyouts are commonplace. Never burn any bridges, because you will surely end up working with some of the same folks again. Its been fun but its sobering to realize that I've worked at the bank longer than I haven't. I'm feeling mature so I thought I'd share a not so mature video. Hope you like it. Its called pole dancing.

Its a New Year (thank goodness)

New Year's Eve is always a party and this year was no exception. I actually shed a little tear of relief as the clock struck midnight. We all had a great time, no one got particularly sloshed or embarrassed themselves so I would say it was a grand success. Dr. Pat (in the black dress) got the party started early by bringing cosmo drinks with her. You can see Barb has her drink in hand - the rest of us had already finished ours. Here's the whole group minus myself and Mr. B. We also caught up with some other friends at the party. It was such a nice evening. We all got together for brunch the next day and the following Sunday evening one of the guys cooked a gourmet dinner - seriously gourmet for us. Now that's a really good way to ring in the new year.

Party fools enjoying the band. You can tell it was early in the evening as no one had the 2009 balloons around their head or waist. That came later.

The Best of Times

Did You Notice?

G-Man Before:

G-Man after:

It really doesn't take a lot to make me happy and he has always had a knack for saying and doing just the right thing at the right moment. Moms know what I mean - gets you right through the heart. He has always been able to do that. He knows I love him with a nice hair cut and clean-shaven so, no biggie to him, he was happy to do it.