Way back on Saturday morning, the 23rd, just after 8am, I found myself back at my car after over a week at sea and a long night of standing watch. It is always such a pleasant feeling to find yourself back on land and back with familiar things. The first thing I saw in my car was a Virginia Symphony ad for a pops concert that very night in downtown... an evening with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. I had left it there so I wouldn't forget about it, I suppose. Well, the first thing I did, even before going home was to head over to my favorite diner, the Sandfiddler Cafe, for my favorite... western omelet with hash and pancakes. After resting at home for a while, I headed out to Virginia Beach for a DVD player (for my new TV) and a couple frames for a couple puzzles that I didn't feel like breaking up.The concert ended up being very crowded at the Chrysler Center downtown. I barely made it there in time because it was so hard to find parking. Ended up leaving the car at the MacArthur Center Mall garage, then walked the block or so back to the symphony. Then when I finally got to my seat in the back row, there was someone sitting in it! She got up and mentioned that she was only sitting there to be next to her friends, so I offered to take her seat, wherever that was (the one I bought was the cheapest price in the house, so it wasn't too magnanimous of me). She gave me her special seating in the second row on the extreme right... a view to die for, right behind the piano so I could even see the fingers fly! What a trade!
As for the concert itself, gosh, did I enjoy it! They're celebrating their 20th year this year and still have all their original members... I did want to swing in the aisles, as the flier advertised I would, when I heard them play. They were very energetic, and played very light, happy, jazz, swing, big-band and Dixieland sounds. At intermission, I ran out to the foyer and bought their new album Rattle Them Bones before the table got swamped. And I've been listening it in my car ever since. I was surprised by a sweet love song half-way through the album on the way home that they didn't play at the concert... called It Only Took a Kiss. Immediately, I was swept away with it as it plainly described my own love with Michael. 
Monday the 25, I turned 30 years old in the morning while working on a couple checks on the Sonar Dome at work. No one remembered, but before I came in, I had a message from my parents and husband on Facebook... what more could you want? :) And then I was let off early because of the evening class I had to attend, starting at 6:30 pm, lasting for 4 hours. So it was about noon-ish when I got groceries and gas at the commissary. Since I woke up late that morning, and had to rush to work, I made an excellent breakfast for lunch when I got home around 12:30. After that I worked on my puzzle, took a nap, and managed to stop for Burger King before making my way back to base for my class in Divisional Safety Petty Officer training. Oh, joy!Because it was a two-day class, my supervisor (Senior Chief) let me off of work on Tuesday the 26th. Another fine birthday present, I think. I slept in, had cereal, watched Sleeping Beauty for a belated birthday movie, had Pad Thai shrimp for lunch, went to the shooting range on the Marine Corps base to shoot my own pistol for the first time (enjoyed it quite a bit although I was limited by the one clip of 15 rounds I brought with me... they were out of it at the store), then continued on directly to the laundromat in Ocean View and read more in The Caine Mutiny while I waited. More puzzling at home before the last installment of my class that night. Also got in a nice long call with my parents and sister Meg before talking with Mike.
Wednesday, I was allowed to come in late again! What a week! Slept in again! Didn't have to be in to work until 11am, so I heartily enjoyed a full breakfast. All I had time to do at work before we were let go to work out was get the divisional safety binder in order. And after the 30 minutes on the elliptical, another STG and I went to a public indoor pool in Norfolk for a wonderful half-hour's swim. I only did 600 yds, but that was because I stopped and talked with my friend more often than not. After dropping her back at her house, I returned home for a shower, then went down the street to Franco's Italian Cuisine for dinner and enjoyed spaghetti with meatballs the size of baseballs, hot bread and decaff for a treat. The next day was my duty day, so I saved half the meal for dinner on the ship (which ended up being much better than what they served!).
Friday afternoon, the beginning of my second wonderful weekend, I relaxed at home for a while, working a bunch on my puzzle and eating some pizza from the freezer for lunch. I had to stay long enough for UPS to deliver my push-mower from Amazon (which apparently required a signature - they tried to find me at home on my duty day and left a note) before I took off for Kristin and Dan's. It finally came around 6:30, so I made it over to Chesapeake around 7:15. They waited to have dinner until I got there too... so very sweet! We had pulled-pork sandwiches and coleslaw as we watched one of the TV shows they enjoy on Hulu... called "Revolutions". Then we finished the last of the John Adams series which we had started late last year.
Saturday the 30th, slept in til 8, and then we took off to have an Easter brunch with their close friends. I loved the egg & sausage casserole best... and had a good time meeting everyone. A couple notable things I enjoyed looking at at their house: not sure what type of fish this was, but the Naval Academy Press book dated from 1939! I was disappointed the Sears book did not have a toy section.
Upon returning to their house, Kristin and I watched the BBC Lord Peter Wimsey film (4 TV episodes) of Have His Carcase from 1987. This was the book I just finished reading underway, so it was great fun! It was the only L.P.W. dvd I could find at our library, but I didn't mind... liked it very much. Just like the BBC too... some scenes are pulled from the book word for word!. I think I shall see the two others with these actors before I watch the Ian Carmichael series. Then I picked up my book for a while (A Voice in the Wind - a Christian/historical fiction/romance novel that the other Lay Leader on the Truxtun lent me to read - after talking about it on watch together) before Kristin and Dan came downstairs and we watched a movie (Diamonds are Forever - forgive me) and more Hulu (New Girl) before going to bed.
Today! my brother's birthday and the day we celebrate our Lord's resurrection, the 31st, we all slept in. I was downstairs first, even after my shower, so I read some more in my book. There were leftovers from yesterday's brunch, and then I read some more and chatted with Kristin about church. While she went to go get ready for the day, I borrowed her sewing machine and sewed the crows and name tapes on a new pair of coveralls, then did more straight seams along a dark gray fleece blanket for the ship. When I finished, we broke out a puzzle on the kitchen table and nearly finished it before our Easter lunch of baked ham, sweet potato casserole, and green bean casserole. Mmm! Did more puzzle and then took off for an evening Easter service at the new church they're attending... Crosscurrent Church off Indian River Road in Kempsville.
What a surprise! It is so very much like the church I've been missing for ten months now... Mission Valley Christian Fellowship in San Diego. It's about the same size, also meeting in a classic, old-style chapel that is shared by another church. They only have a couple guitars and a drum set, and a very Biblical, down-to-earth, no nonsense way of teaching. I already met a couple nice young women my age who assume I'm coming to their small group too! They do communion every Sunday, and in the same manner as MVCF... everyone gets in two lines and comes to the front. Good Lord, praises for today's find! I said goodbye to Kristin and Dan in the parking lot, as we had drove separately, and we parted ways while getting on different ramps to I-64. Praise God! I am happy. Jw
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