2010/06/07

"Dining Out"

Jake and I had a date Saturday night with our "Good" friends.  Note the italics.. their last name is Good. We had so much fun.  I remember after nights like Saturday why I love for my girls to dress up, because it is fun indeed to get dressed up.  
The event we went to is called a "Dining Out" meaning wives can come along.  During a "Dining In" wives stay home.  The Dining Out was centered around the Battle of Midway.  Remembering the battle and learning little known facts about the battle is what the night was centered around.  The fun of the night is that there is a lot of fun sarcasm thrown into the event as well as audience participation.  The Vice president of the event walks around with a microphone and asks various questions of the audience about the battle being remembered.  If you don't know the answer you are sent to the front of the room to take a swig from "The Grog" which is a huge metal bowl mixed with various liquors.  If you can answer the question correctly you are still sent to The Grog.  It doesn't matter what you know or you don't know, you will be punished.  Some of the folks get really into it and the rest of us are there for the entertainment.  There are many rules to the event, such as no laughing.. which is impossible, but in particular no clapping.  If you need to clap you can tap your spoon, fork, knife against the table or your glass.  If you accidentally clap you are sent to The Grog.  You may not eat your dinner until given permission by "The President." Before the fun begins the roast beast beef is paraded around the room and the band leader sings a song about the beast beef.    There is no such thing as getting up and going to the bathroom during the event.  If you must get up or leave for any reason you will have to ask The President for permission..There is a lot of toasting and the port we were given to toast with was particularly strong.. After about 10 toasts I decided I should probably hold the glass to my lips and refrain from the sipping.  Aside from the hymn of each branch of the military, the band also played the number one song of 1942 which was, "The Tangerine." Click the link to hear it played. It was so slow paced, smooth, a touch of drear, but oh so good!  It makes me wonder how most music of the day could ever reach "The Charts."  
Here is a picture of Jake and I during one of the designated 10 minute breaks.
Below is the group photo of us with our Good friends, Daniel and Maryn.

A sweet evening and memories to be treasured for a long while.

10 comments:

Colby Reynolds said...

i bet you guys gad a lot of fun!

Colby Reynolds said...

had* lol

Anonymous said...

Mom, did you have to go to the grog?
sounds like you and dad enjoyed yourselves

CLR said...

No, JackieLynn I did not and I still had fun ;~).

Claire Higgins said...

Christie,
I was reading this is thought, "Is this for real??? Or, is Christie going to tell us all at the end that this was actually a bad dream she had one night?!"
I can barely believe this happened!!! hahahaha
Glad you had fun, that's awesome. :)

Tiffany said...

What fun! Steve and I went to one right before going to Okinawa, it was definitely an experience ; ) Love the pictures, you look beautiful!!

Jen said...

Matt and I have been to a few those ridiculous little events and they are always just as silly. At one all the pilots put their napkins on their heads like bandanas and were flinging dinner rolls across the room like grenades (I'm sure Marine Corps pilots would never behave so.) It was awesome. Oh, I could tell a few more stories from that night, but none would be suitable as I am now somebody's mother. ;)

pops said...

Sounds like my type of occaision!!!

Karen said...

Sounds wonderful. I think we missed out on a few fun things that are only offered to the military. One of the rewards for serving.

john.reynolds1@mac.com said...

Thanks for sharing your wonderful date night!