With the yummy turkey and stuffing behind us, and many days of leftovers ahead, I would like to take the opportunity to say a few things about today's usual event. Black Friday has become a staple of our society and that is sad. People horde into stores to find "deals" that really aren't deals and thus begins the shopping season. Why not take Black Friday off and not shop this year? Instead, write a heartfelt note in your Christmas cards or bake a gift. Materialism is not the point of this season. Togetherness, love and family are what we should be focusing on. Not the gifts under the tree.

 

Danya and Brandon and Lex

Saturday night (after a full day of Final Drill - which Gy Chouinard tied for High Hat with a score of 96!!!) we got all dressed up and headed off to the Ball. Since we didn't go last year, we were excited about this one. The AWTF was decked out quite nicely, with an ice sculpture even. The music was varied, if a little loud. The food was good and the drinks were reasonable. All in all, it was a good night. The Commandant's message made me cry - again. We left at about 2130 and picked up sleeping Lex. I believe we were home and in bed by 2300. It was a good date night. My dress was a huge success, lots of compliments.

 

Danya and Brandon

Back in 1775, the 2nd Continental Congress raised 2 Battalions of Marines on this day. Their headquarters was a tavern in Philadelphia until other arrangements could be made. Over the past 234 years, Marines have fought in every major battle and a few minor ones, earning a reputation for being solid fighters. They are the smallest of the Armed Forces, with a standing populace of 204,000 as of now. Women joined their ranks in 1918, starting with Opha Mae Johnson. They are often called America's 911 Force.

 

The Marine Corps Birthday wasn't celebrated on this day until 1921. General Lejuene made 10 November the official Birthday and detailed plans to have an annual Ball in that honor. Ever since then, on 10 Novemeber Marines around the world stop and pay tribute to their heritage. General Lejuene's message is read, as is one from the current Commandant. A cake is solemnly rolled out and sliced with a non-commissioned officer sword. The pieces are then distributed to the Oldest and Youngest Marines present, to signify the passing on of the generations. There is always a table dedicated to the fallen, where the place setting is inverted.

 

On this day, I ask you all to seek out a present or former Marine and give them thanks. Many pay far too dear a price for their service. I also remind you that tomorrow is Veteran's Day. Find a Vet and thank them. Many don't want fanfare. But all appreciate gratitude.

 

Semper Fidelis,

Danya Ozmore, Former Sergeant USMC

Brandon Ozmore, Gunnery Sergeant USMC

After yesterday's 80 degree humid, pumpkin rotting weather, maybe it'll act more like Fall now. There is heavy fog clinging to the oak trees, making for a very spooky sight. Just my kind of weather. I hope everyone remembered to "Fall Back" last night. We did and yet still tried to get up too early. Heehee. Now we can officially turn our sights towards Thanksgiving and Christmas. Although, Walmart seems to think we've been in that season for weeks. Weird. I urge everyone to remember what we have to be thankful for this year and ignore the rampant materialism that runs this time of year. This season is not about gifts and how many and how expensive. This season is about love and family and being thankful for what you have. Don't go shopping, spend time with family instead.

 

Danya and Brandon and Lex

With the big ONE fast approaching, I want to thank everyone for the pile of boxes and cards that have been pouring in. I have taken careful note of everything before I give it to him. As he gets older, we'll probably save everything for his actual birthday but this year, he doesn't particularly care. I was kinda hoping he'd walk by his birthday but he's on his own time schedule and he's not sharing. I can't wait to see if he tries to park the car in the garage sideways. I think he has those mischievious leanings...

 

Danya and Brandon and Lex

The best little bathtub drummer in South Carolina just might take his show on the road! The little man has taken a liking to drumming his fat hands on the edge of the tub. He notices the difference when his hands are wet and when they are dry. He likes it when mama participates too. Sometimes he even drums the water! He might just give Uncle Kyle a run for his money. Look for Lex's spectacular drum show in theaters soon.

 

Danya and Brandon and Lex

Great news! Brandon did great! The platoon took 1st place. Brandon took third as far as DIs go but still a vast improvement over the first time he ran Initial Drill. He looked confident and smooth, even if it was cold and he was shaking. OoRah! The platoon heads to the Rifle Range for Grass Week next week so they're about half way done now. Wow! How time is flying!

Initial drill is tomorrow and Brandon is marching them. It's pouring down rain so I'm pretty sure they'll be inside. We'll see... I'll attempt to post pictures once I take some - that is, assuming I find the camera...

Well, well... October is almost here. Wow...

 

Next week is Initial Drill. I believe Brandon will be marching them in that. I'll try and make it with a camera. I have to work that day but not until later so it shouldn't be a problem. Lex will miss it but he doesn't really notice. I'll post the pictures and results once I know them. Everyone pray for Brandon, it's agonizingly stressful.

For anyone who is curious, I've realized that I've irrevocably turned into my mom.

 

Not that there's anything wrong with that. There seems to be a point in a woman's life when she realizes that she's become her mother. I don't know if guys experience the same thing with their dads...

 

Anyways, the funny thing is that I caught myself doing something and then realized the significance of it. It was a perfectly normal action until that point.

 

I was planning Lex's party when I caught myself shopping for 3D cake pans. For anyone who is lost, my mom is somewhat famous for making myself and my brother 3D cakes as children. I just thought it was a neat idea until I realized... dum da dum dummmm... I had become my mother.

 

Funnier yet, I'm okay with it. Weird...

 

Danya and Brandon and Lex

Well...That dreaded day has arrived yet again. This morning Brandon will set off on another three month adventure to scare a new bunch of kids into being Marines. Well, not really but you know what I mean. I made sure he slept okay and ate some Oreos. He had yesterday off to nap and eat and be lazy. He needed that. I'm sure he enjoyed it too.

 

Work is going well. The two new people start tomorrow and Tuesday with us. They aren't new to NFCU but just new to our program. I've been trying out my new daycare provider. She's awesome. Lex doesn't start with her full-time until October though.

 

People have been asking what we're doing for Lex for his birthday. So far we haven't planned much. No pony rides, no bouncey, etc. He's 1 and doesn't need that stuff. He's going to get a cupcake and a candle. I might spring for some new clothes for him. He seems to be growing out of 12 mos and into 18 mos clothes. He doesn't really need any toys. If anyone is so inclined as to want to get him something, we have a Saving Account open for him and any monetary donations will go there. Eventually we might open an ESA (Education Savings Acct) for him (like an IRA but must be used for education expenses and donations must stop by the time the child turns 18). We're still debating it. If we were to do that eventually, anyone can donate to that account. I started a box for him of things he'll better appreciate later, like coins and White House Christmas ornaments. I guess what I'm saying is that he doesn't need much so don't feel like you need to get him anything. We know how things are these days.

 

Danya and Brandon and Lex

This week is Brandon's pickup week - meaning he'll pick up another platoon on Saturday. :( Le sad. He had last week off and was wandering around in Florida, Alabama and Georgia taking care of some stuff. Glad he got that taken care of, but he didn't get to relax much.

 

Lex is all legs and arms now. He's growing again (as far as I can tell). He can stand on his own but prefers not to. He still likes to open and close doors. He shut me in the closet yesterday. Luckily he doesn't know how to lock things. Stud is very chill with him. Still waiting on the first scratch.

 

There were some abandoned kittens in our backyard recently. We caught them because they were crawling up into my engine compartment. I'm going to be taking them to the Animal Shelter today. We considered adopting the first one but when the second one came along, we knew we couldn't do both. Since they're from the same litter, I'm going to take them both to the Shelter. The Shelter people promised me that they won't kill them. I don't know if that's true or not, or if they just wanted to make me feel better. I couldn't find anyone who wanted them. Le sad...

 

Danya and Brandon and Lex

Yay! We made it through another cycle. That's 2 Brandon has under his belt. He is now off for a week. The graduation was fabulous and I'll be posting some of my pictures from it soon. I took some 165 pics so I won't post them all. It was really neat to see an outdoor grad. I haven't seen one since my brother in 1996 in San Diego. Plus I finally feel like I know what I missed in 1999. It was great. It was very hot and sticky and I had to trot down the street to work afterwards so I was dripping with sweat for a little while once I got to work. Oh well. Everything worked out fine. Brandon is heading to PCB today.

 

Danya and Brandon and Lex

A bunch of us wives attended one of their graduation practices on the parade deck yesterday. It was odd to see family members there watching their Maroots. I think they should not be allowed to attend a grad practice since seeing them get yelled at by the Regimental Drill Master kind of ruins the mystique of the graduation itself. But maybe that's just me...

Wow! Brandon's platoon graduates in just two days! Where has the time gone? I've uploaded some pics from Final Drill. I know they aren't as interesting as some other things. Enjoy them anyway. I'll have new pics of Stud and Lex soon I'm sure. I've been hard at work on one of my novels. I'm revamping the ending. I still haven't heard about the full-time position at work. I'll let you know once I do.

 

One thing to note: the Silent Drill platoon will be here next week. I'm going to try and go to it and take pics. I'm very excited. We had the chance to see them perform like every week in Quantico but never made it up to DC to see them. I'll post the pics of that once they get here.

 

Danya and Brandon and Lex

Final Drill was this past Wednesday. The sunrise was beautiful over the island. I think I got a few pictures of that but I can't remember what I did with the camera. When I find it, I'll be sure to post them. I never did hear where Brandon's platoon fell in the ranking of Final Drill but I know they didn't win. They did however win the trophy for highest Rifle score. So that's something.

 

They started the Crucible on Thursday morning at like 2am. Midday Thursday the skies opened up and it began to pour and pour and pour and lightning and thunder. Poor guys! Crucible Dinner was messy because this island floods easily. I had to wade through calf deep water to bring food in plus I had Peanut with me. I was soaked to the skin but Peanut was dry (I carry an umbrella). We didn't stay long because I was concerned about getting Peanut to bed and also about driving in the flooded dark. We made it home just as the sun was setting and it was getting dark. The rain continued through some of Friday but then it slacked off. This morning (Saturday) Brandon and the other DIs will be hiking the recruits in and bringing them to the Iwo Jima statue. That's where they will cease being Recruits and be called Marines for the first time. Yay!

 

This whole coming week they will be Marines and treated as such. That just means longer hours for Brandon because they go to bed later and get up earlier. They graduate this Friday. :)

 

I've put in for another position at work and should find out who got it this coming week. :)

 

Danya and Brandon and Lex

Sorry for the extended silence! Lex and I travelled to Oregon and Washington for 3 weeks and just got back. I'll have photos to post soon, I promise!

 

A few things of note: Lex is now crawling! Yay! We are so screwed! Brandon is inside the month window for graduating his platoon - really excited about that one!

 

Danya and Brandon and Lex

On this day, 11 years ago, Brandon arrived on a muggy island in the wee hours of the morning to begin his Marine Corps career. Now, 11 years later, he's back on that same damn island. :) Happy 11 years! It's been tough but I'm proud to have shared the last 6 with you!

Happy Independence Day! Thank your daily lives on the will of those 50 some delegates to commit treason in order to preserve their liberties.

 

The countdown to Washington has begun. Honestly, I have no idea when I'm going to pack. I have today and Wednesday off but both days are full of things like going to Base Legal and followup doctor appts. I hope I don't have to pack at midnight Friday (before I leave on Saturday). I also need to do my nails but that's of less concern. I was trying to remember the last time I made a trip out there... Was it really Julie's wedding in July 2007? Wow... If that was the last time, I'm due for a trip.

 

I'm looking for ideas on how to entertain Lex on the plane. It's a 5 hr 18 min or so flight plus time at the airport, etc. I've been trying to think of quiet, entertaining toys but to no avail. Everything is loud. If I could get him to sleep for at least two of those hours, I might be able to not go crazy. We'll see but I think I'll drive next time.