235th USMC Birthday Ball

Last night I celebrated a great birthday. Two hundred and thirty five years of a great tradition and an even better Corps. The ceremony was perfect, everyone looked great, and for 700 Marines, spouses and guests it was a chance to let down our hair and celebrate.

I never celebrate my birthday for just a day, so it was only fair that we made this birthday extra special by making a weekend out of it. Me, Danny, Natosha and Dan spent the weekend in Myrtle Beach. To celebrate the USMC birthday, we put on some pretty fancy dresses and went to our first ball!

I'm not that tan, darker skin setting on my camera was apparently on!

The ball started with cocktail hour, we got our professional pictures taken, mingled and took advantage of the free kegs. We spent $5 total at the ball on alcohol, which I was very excited about! Soon we were called in the ball room and took our seats for the ceremony. I was expecting it to be much more epic, but it was still great. We watched a video message from the commandant and listened to our (kinda boring) guest speaker. Cake was presented to the oldest and youngest Marines...and then it was time for the fun to start!

Dinner came out, seriously one at a time. Natosha had the chicken, the guys had amazing looking prime rib, and I had the vegetarian dish...mushroom raviolis. Apparently people think vegetarians are not very hungry people...I had a grand total of four raviolis on my plate! I literally looked at Natosha and said "um...where's my dinner?"

After dinner the dance floor opened up! We only danced to one song....The Cupids Shuffle. And the most amazing part of the night was seeing SgtMaj dancing with everyone. Seriously, the man never smiles...and I've been told to never look him in the eye...but seeing him dance made me want to give him a big 'ol bear hug!

As the night started to wrap up, of course we took the obligatory group photos!

The ball was a lot of fun, it just wasn't as...ball-ish...as I thought it would be. Apparently I've just watched Cinderella one too many times! And speaking of Cinderella, I can totally understand how she lost a shoe...my feet were killing me by the end of the night! I was told to expect some pretty skanky dresses, but I seriously thought everyone looked so classy last night. I saw all kind of dresses, short and long, and all different colors. So, now I know for next year...don't spend as much money and wear super comfy shoes!

I have never been more proud to be part of this great family. I will say this, Marines certainly do know how to throw a great party! In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt  “The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!”

Happy Birthday Marines!

The Myrtle Beach Timeline

What a friggin weekend. I think the best way to talk about our little Myrtle Beach excursion is to give you the timeline.

12:00 - 2:30 We drove down to Myrtle Beach. It's not that far away, but Highway 17 has lights. To me, that's not a highway. Each time we drive down there it gets further and further away.

3:00 We meet up with Danny's step-sister, Stephanie, at the hotel. We wanted to sit by the pool, but it looks like this..

I'm not sure, but I don't think the pool is supposed to be GREEN.

3:00 - 6:fucking30  What turned into a quick catch up, me and Danny being ready for HOURS, has officially turned into the Stephanie fashion show. Things not to do in Myrtle Beach = sit in hotel room.

6:30 We're finally going to dinner. We snap the essential "going out" picture.

7:00 We are sitting, eating, drinking and talking. I can see in Lindsey's eyes that she is already annoyed with Stephanie. She keeps flashing me the "please shut her up" look. My friend, Danielle, from home met up with us!

9:00 Dinner is officially over after Lindsey pounds her last beer in order to get away from Stephanie.

9:30 - 10:00 We walk around Broadway, having a good time!

11:00 - 2:00 We are at my favorite place ever. Drinking and dancing. We meet up with my friend Chad. Stephanie ditches us for a bunch of Mexicans. We randomly meet up with one of Danny's friends who hangs out with us for the rest of the night.We see a girl with no pants on...

2:00 - 3:00 The clubs close. We watch people get arrested and taken out in ambulances. We find Stephanie in front of a random store. We pile in the car because someone says they want Denny's.

3:00 - 3:45 No one can find Denny's. Stephanie is pissed and screaming. Lindsey is getting mad. We pull over. I'm getting screamed at by Lindsey, for reasons I'm still not sure of. Stephanie gets out of the car and walks away. Danny and his friend are out of the car, so I do the same. Lindsey is cussing me out, the three of us just stand there and take it. Stephanie calls and says she's back with the Mexicans and she will meet us at the hotel. We get in the car, in silence and go to the hotel.

3:45 - 4:00 We are in bed. Stephanie calls "Thanks to you guys I lost my fucking wallet in that Mexicans car, you need to come let me in RIGHT NOW." Me and Danny go get her, check Lindsey's car for the wallet. Nothing.

4:00 I'm back in bed and Stephanie is packing. I ask where she is going. No answer. She storms out of the room. Five minutes later, Lindsey goes after her. Ten minutes later, Stephanie kicks us all out of the room and says "This room is under my name, if you don't leave...I'm calling the cops." We grab our stuff...and leave. She calls "appologizes" and tells us to go back. Uh, HELL NO.

4:15 - 5:20 We drive, exhausted. Pull over to nap.

5:40 - 7:40 Drive in horrible fog, exhausted, and the GPS stops working!

7:40 HOME SWEET HOME.

Awful, just awful. I'm not sure why everyone was so pissed and yelling. Stephanie must have found her wallet, last I checked she was in Charleston eating lunch and continuing her roadtrip.

The good  news? Me and Danny bought season 5 of LOST today on base for $30. We've done nothing all day except nap and watch TV. The puppy is at the kennel, probably having way more fun than I had the entire weekend!

The lesson? When you have one for me..let me know.

Last Day of Vacation: Myrtle Beach!

We spend a lot of time in cars, a lot. Charlotte is 4 hours. Myrtle Beach is a little over 2 hours. And we did both this week. Lots and lots of driving, two hotels, and 2 overnights stays for Miley at the kennel. We are all exhausted!

Yesterday we drove down to Myrtle Beach! Danny and Keith were so excited to go to the Nascar Raceway. One word: LAME. I don't really know what we were all expecting, but it was just like any other go-kart place. Except with more creepy people. The "Guess Your Weight" guy was a total creep. Possibly a mind reader, maybe a stalker. I don't know. But he gave me the creeps and I know he said "Oh your knees hurt? Mine too" and something about "monsters inside of you." Things I haven't told anyone or posted on any online sources. He gave me the creeps, harassed me and my sister through the  megaphone and when I tried turning him in I was told "they are contracted and there is nothing we can do." I was beyond pissed. (I'm a worry wart and I'm nervous about everything..this guy pushed me over the edge.)

if you look closely, you can see the creep!

We went to Medieval Times. I've seen the show so many times now, but it was Keith's first time. Michelle is a vegetarian so we were all curious to see what she would be served. We all had chicken, ribs, soup...no silverware. Michelle got hummus, pita bread, grilled veggies, rice and silverware! It looked so good! We had the yellow knight (again) this time he lost! If you have never been to the show, I highly recommend it!

 

We walked around Broadway, did some shopping and we got caricatures done! It came out so good!

Our last stop in Myrtle Beach was Ripley's Believe It or Not! I'm not sure if I believe most of it, but it's still a pretty cool place!

We headed back to the hotel..I think we were there for about 5 seconds before I passed out. It was a long week and we had to be up super early this morning! The alarm went off at 7, we threw on some clothes and then we all parted ways. I had such a great (and exhausting) week with my sister and Keith! I wish it could have lasted a little longer!