Job Update

Gosh guys! I've talked to lots of people individually, but I realize I haven't really given a general update on the job situation. In December I was offered a position as a pediatric PT in the schools on the bases and was due to start in February. There was a delay in paperwork pushing my start date back until at least April maybe May. Then I got an email from the hiring company in mid-March saying that they had a drop in caseload and couldn't afford to hire anyone at this point. So, again, I am unemployed indefinitely! I was really bummed out and still am. I was really looking forward to getting back in the saddle. Apparently there is another plan for me.

At this time, I have an application in to be a tumbling teacher at the Youth Center. This will still give me the opportunity to teach gross motor skills to kiddos. I am also looking into an off base "youth center" to do some of the same things. Now it's time for to look "outside the box" for ways to continue to use my education and sharpen my skills. Any other ideas or suggestions?!

I appreciate all of your continue support. I'm feeling very frustrated by this long arduous process but am still hopeful that something will happen.

Culture Corner - Warrior Banquet

Yet another interesting military tradition is the Dining In, or this case it's called a Warrior Banquet. It's a pep rally of sorts where all operational squadrons get together to show their team spirit and compete for certain awards. It is usually held in a large space on base such as a dining hall or hangar. Spouses arrive early in the day to decorate their tables and chairs with squadron colors and paraphernalia. The room is also detailed with other items that demonstrate the mission of each squadron. Because the Warrior Banquet was held in a hangar this year, there was an F-15 in the corner, a rescue boat and rafts in the back, parachutes hanging form the ceiling, and sandbags lining the entryway.

The squadron mascot, Vincent D. Vampire, sat at the head table with the drinks. The banquet was held in March so he had to sport a mustache in honor of Mustache March!!

When the time comes, all arrive dressed in squadron specific costumes, some are more creative than others. This is one of those special times when we wear our Bat Babe dresses or party suits!! However, some have special dresses made for the occasion such as Kim here. She even had a flight suit jacket!! Others wear their husband's flight suits. Brittany and I wore the dress because it's just so cute!!

They usually start the night with a cocktail hour where people mingle, take pictures, and steel paraphernalia from other tables as hostage items. After everyone takes their seats, VIPs are introduced, the National Anthem is sung and the POW/MIA table is addressed. This is a sobering part of the night but a necessary reminder of those who have gone before us. Then they serve a mediocre meal where rolls are saved in napkins. They are usually launched at neighboring tables when the events start to drag later in the night.

After dinner, there can be some form of short entertainment. This year, the Bat Babes were asked to perform our winning skit from the Spouse's Dining In in November. We did a dance to Lady Gaga's Telephone. It was really pretty good, if you ask me!!

Then the real reason for the evening takes place. They announce the winners for various categories throughout the Operations Group. Nominees are submitted by each squadron commander for each category with a list of reasons he thinks this person deserved to win. Awards for Maintainer of the Year, Exec of the Year, Flight Lead of the Year, and Enlisted Airman of the Year are awarded accordingly. Mike was nominated by the 44th as the Officer Airman of the Year. Sadly, he didn't win, but a nomination is still pretty cool!!

I know little about each nomination category so you can imagine how exciting this portion of the evening can be!! I distracted myself by throwing rolls, toilet paper, and taking pictures in between each announcement. As you can tell by the expressions on the faces below, I was not the only one board out of my mind nor was I the only one causing a raucous!!

In the end, it was a fun night and a great opportunity to show our squadron spirit.

Dog Day at the Beach

A few weeks ago, Rusty and I went to the beach. I will admit, we don't go as often as he would like, but when we get there, he takes full advantage! He loves to run through the water, sniff through the sand, and explore the bushes that line the beach. He is truly happy there and literally smiles the entire time!!

On this particular day, Rusty was rummaging through the bushes for a long time. He suddenly came running back down the beach triumphantly carrying a new neon green squeaky ball in his mouth. He ran up to where I sat on the sand and dropped it by my towel. When I didn't pick it up, he began to play his own game of hide and seek!! He dug in the sand around the ball until eventually he hiked the ball through his hind legs behind him. Then he would sniff through the sand and stomp his feet until he found his new toy. Once he found it, the digging started again, and the process repeated itself.

Tired and hot, he finally dropped to the sand next to me, his new ball close by. That's when I picked it up and walked toward the water. He took off into the waves to retrieve the ball I still hadn't thrown!! We played fetch for another 30 minutes before he threw himself down in a wave pool to cool himself, panting and smiling!

After a few hours of this rotation, it was time to go. The ball was covered in sand!! So, I rinsed it off in the water before putting it in my towel for the long walk back to the car. I made my way toward the trail and called for Rusty to follow. He is usually pretty excited for a car ride, but not this time! He was franticly digging in the sand where our stuff once rested. His worried eyes would look from me to the sand and back at me again. I couldn't figure out what had gotten into him!! Finally, I pulled out the ball and gave it a squeeze. He looked up at the sound and ran after me! He wasn't about to leave that beach without his pride and joy!

He rode home with his face and long tongue out the window. Feeling the wind in your ears is the perfect way to end this awesome day!!

Though I would LOVE to post all 35 pictures I took of him that day, these are just a few of the best! I know I am biased, but I think he is the most handsome dog in the world!! I love that smile and don't know what I would do without a loyal friend like Rusty.

Welcome Home, Cody!!

A few weeks ago, the other F-15 squadron, the 67th Fighting Cocks, returned to Kadena after a 3 month deployment. Among them was a friend, Cody Clark. When the guys landed, their wives and children went out on the flightline to welcome them home. Cody's wife, Katy asked to take pictures of their reunion. This reunion was more than just a welcoming back from a deployment. This was a special event for Cody and Katy. Katy found out she was pregnant shortly after Cody deployed. This was the first time he was going to his pregnant wife. She was already in her second trimester. I was so honored to be there for this special event and see the look on his face to actually see her cute little baby bump for the first time!!

I am so thankful that they all returned safely. It must be nice for all the families to have their husband and father back at home! Thanks for the opportunity to take photos of this awesome reunion, Katy and Cody!!

Katy made this cute shirt to flash to Cody when we pulled the jet into the hangar!

Cody's face was priceless when he read the message and saw Katy again!!

When he finally got out of the jet, she ran to embrace him!

The wing commander, General Wilsbach, was there to welcome him back with a handshake too! No big deal.

How sweet it is to have him home!!

Yet Another TDY

Mike left a few days ago on yet another TDY. This time he'll be gone for at least six weeks. Rusty and I really miss him already but will do our best to keep busy until he's back again.

Be safe, Shot!! Hurry home!!

Culture Corner - Party Suits and Bat Babe Dresses

Another fun tradition that Mike and I have taken part in and come to love is the Party Suit and Bat Babe Dress.

The party suit is actually an official tradition documented at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force! It started in the last 1960's in Thailand with, you guessed it, a fighter squadron. Fighter pilots made leisure suits generally mimicking the flight suit using colorful lightweight material. This lighter suit was much more comfortable in the hot, humid tropical environment. They were worn for special social occasions in place of the heavy, restrictive dress uniforms, hence the name Party Suit. Some form of name, rank, and squadron identification were added but most of the details were left up to the creativity of the individual.

Of course, once a military tradition has started, it is difficult to do away with it, especially in the fighter community. So even today, the guys have party suits made in the squadron colors. They wear them for special occasions like First Friday and Warrior Banquets.

In response to this, the spouses in the squadron have made a female version of the suit that we call The Bat Babe Dress. It too mimics the flight suit, is made in the squadron colors, and even has patches. Once we've been named, we too have a patch with our call sign on it. We wear our dresses for special occasions and like to find fun shoes to match too!!

In the end, it's just another excuse to get dressed up and look silly while having a great time with friends. That is something that I definitely enjoy about this community. They know how to enjoy themselves, let loose, and be silly. Thank goodness for traditions like this one!

ADDENDUM

Shortly after posting this the first time, I got an email from Mike's Dad, Doc Glass. He wanted us to know that he's been wearing a party suit years but not always to parties. He's a veterinarian and his uniform does resemble a party suit. Doc- maybe you've been partying for years and didn't even know it!! Reason #44 that you are a fighter pilot at heart!