Dining Out

A couple weeks ago I got the opportunity to go to a military formal for the BYU Air Force ROTC. A friend called me up and asked if I wanted to go. I've been looking for an excuse to get dressed up for awhile, so I jumped at the opportunity.
I got asked kind of short notice, but I managed to get put together in time. I decided to go with a dress I wore to a formal at USU, and just added a few modest touches. I've never been to a military formal before, and I felt completely out of my element. The friend I went with didn't really know many people there, so we spent a lot of time just walking around and talking amongst ourselves.
The event was held at Fort Douglas, which I had never been to before. The area kind of reminded me of Annapolis, so it actually felt kind of familiar. The building was beautiful, the tables were gorgeously set, and the atmosphere was fun.

The evening was a perfect blend of patriotism, respect, and humor. The color guard did a great job, there was a lot of toasting to different branches and commanders, and there was a moving moment where they set up an empty table for MIAs/POWs. There was a lot of camaraderie and jesting throughout the night.
The Air Force has a drink called the grog (I don't know if other branches have it, or something similar to it), which is placed in a porcelain like sculpture (yes, it looks like a toilet), and people who have committed "offenses" throughout the evening or semester can be nominated to drink the concoction. Sometimes the person who nominates someone else can be forced to drink it as well. The drink is different every year, and this time it had yogurt, fruit, three or four different peppers, and maybe one or two other things. Some of the "offenses" of the evening include not asking someone to watch your date when you leave the table, not making sure the lady's cup is never low/empty, being over eager to have someone else drink the grog, not following proper procedure when coming up, or having a drop of the grog touch your head (after drinking, you have to tip the cup over your head to prove you drank enough). One guy had to drink the grog three times. I think only two women had to drink the grog.

The dinner and dessert was beautiful and absolutely delicious!! I ended up getting steak, steamed vegetables, and mashed potatoes. I was so nervous throughout the evening, that it didn't take much to fill me up. The dessert was some type of whipped cream mousse. Normally I don't like stuff like that, but the dessert was DIVINE!

Did I mention I felt completely out of my depth? If I wasn't talking to my friend, I wasn't talking much. Luckily we sat with people my friend knew, and one of their wives was nice enough to hold a conversation with me to make me feel more comfortable (of course I was the ONLY stranger at the table). Even though I didn't necessarily say much, I had a great time. It was fun, and a completely new experience for me. I would definitely go to something like that again!
The event even had a photographer taking couples pictures, as well as pictures throughout the evening. Looking back at the evening, I kind of wish I had chosen a different dress, I actually felt a little under dressed! Some of the dresses I saw were so beautiful! It makes me want to go out and buy one or two beautiful evening dresses on the off chance I have somewhere to wear them. I kind of wish I had kept the other formal I had worn at USU, it was gorgeous, and feminine, and didn't look or feel like a prom dress. Oh well, guess I'll just have to go shopping! Here are some other shots from the night.