Change of Command

Wednesday

I got up at 8. I quickly watered the outdoor plants. Then I pried a gopher skull from the resin mold. It wasn't smooth at the top. I tried to sand it or slice off the ridge. Finally I put it in a small box and wrapped it with white paper and a gold ribbon.

I drove to the parking lot behind Headquarters and walked to Parade Field. There were three canopies set up with chairs for dignitaries and families of the colonels. Bleachers were set up for the general populace. I found Shannon and gave her the gift. I talked to other people. Then Chris and I sat under the canopy to the right for the ceremony.

People were standing at attention showing the colors. The colonels and some other guy walked out to go through the change of command protocol. Afterward, the outgoing colonel spoke, at length. One of the color guard had to be escorted by EMS from the field, but someone else took his place. The colonel said some really nice things, especially about Chris. Then the incoming colonel spoke, but he kept it short.

Afterwards, there was a line of people to say goodbye to the outgoing colonel. Chris and I got in line, but he soon was talking to someone else and not following the line. So I continued on and Jenni joined me. I prayed for the right words to say to the colonel, but none came. So I hugged Shannon, told her I would miss her, shook the colonel's hand and we walked away.

Jenni and I talked to some other people. Then she headed to the reception. I waited for Chris and we walked over to the club. We stood in line to welcome the new colonel and his wife. There was finger food, but I didn't have any. We sat with CJ. She told me she would deliver the eggs I had ordered, later. We talked about fasting.

Chris and I walked back to Headquarters. I walked out to my car and drove home. I put on my bathing suit and laid out to read. After 15-20 minutes, I came in and wiped off and put on short and a t-shirt. I read e-mail. I worked on the sewing project, which is a towel that folds up into a bag with handles.

At 2:48, I went to 648 for inspection. I hid a note for Jack, but he found it pretty quickly. The house easily passed inspection and I signed the paper. Jack and I talked for some time. On the way home, I stopped to pull weeds by the fruit trees and to cut off the suckers. When I got home, I continued to work on the sewing project. I looked at towel videos to get a good idea of how to fold it. I made some decisions.

Chris came home from work. We talked. I went to the library around 6:30 to return my book and get another one (actually two). On the way back, I noticed the base seemed unusually quiet and calm.

When I got home, Chris was gone to Michele's. I checked messages, then finished sewing my project. I took pics inside then decided the light was better outside. Then I posted the pics and class announcement to Facebook. I took a break, then worked on variables involved in the Paint Class.

Chris came home, so I finished my blog and made tea. We watched one episode of Longmire and read one chapter of the devotional book. He went to bed, but I stayed up to watch a fluid art video.