And a good time was had by all...

I was wrong about my itinerary while we've been here. Saturday wasn't Balboa Park, it was San Diego Wild Animal Park. Very kewl, and cheap because Joanie is a member and we got in as her guests. Meerkats are still my faves, though I did get to go face-to-face with a Lioness, which was Very Kewl.

*Yesterday* was Balboa Park - mostly wandering through with Beth taking pictures of Every Living Thing No On Two Legs. We did get to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, as great as I remembered from the last time I was here in the mid-90's. We waved to the terrified passengers looking *up* at us as they descended in the general vicinity of Lindbergh Field. I did see one guy who caught the chick coming out of the shower, though. Since he had a camera, I'd guess he flies in here a lot...

But the best part of yesterday was the Sandy Eggan Blog-B-Que! Met some legends! Sean of Doc-in-the-Box does an excellent curry, and 'Ques things just the way I like 'em! He and his brand new wife Heather have a wonderful home and are gracious hosts. Feel better soon Heather! (Too many milbloggers in one are was tough on her, I think). Of course Joanie was there - she's our chaperone! We met Ted from Game the World, who is a Normal, but held his own amongst the war stories, and he brought the primo cigars.

I watched Lex shoot his watch a couple of times (people who hang around aviators will know what that means), and found out what Fighter Pilots really do when they are in the circuit, waiting their turn to land. Always training, is all I can say. But next time to see Lex, ask him about the time he almost shot down the...

Citizen Smash (having just finished AT for the year) had a typical Embarrassing Moment For A Junior Officer when handing Lex's phone back to Lex. Suffice it to say This Fieldgrade has never had an Embarrassing Moment With A Subordinate, but remembers a few with Seniors.

Smash, Lex, Myself, and Kevin of The Primary Main Objective fleshed out what we believe Naval Doctrine should evolve to regarding the Ship-to-Shore-and-Inland battle space. I will admit the two field-grades were trying to give Smash some appetite suppressants, lest the Naval Infantry grow in size to rival the Marine Corps. I mostly sat back and listened to the Sailors talk. You learn more when you shut up and listen.

We may be bloggers, but the party pretty quickly sorted itself out to boys on the patio, girls in the living room. Mrs. Smash is exactly the hoot people say she is (and Smash himself has an astounding amount of energy). Kevin had his wonderful Italian girlfriend with him - who held her own 'mongst all the 'Muricans and was charming and had an accent to die for. Gracie, a self-described Blog-Groupie was there, and I'm betting, like all Bloupies, she'll be bloggiing soon enough. Sean's pal Orlando and his girlfriend Shannon were there, the only True Normals among us, and they didn't run away screaming in terror or disgust, though they found out that bloggers talk as compulsively as they blog.

And, of course, Sean snuck away so he could post the pictures and be the First To Blog The Party while we were watching Team America - with much Rocky Horror-like crowd behavior... with Mrs. Smash leading the way.

We had a great time with great people, and it was good to put real faces to blogs. Thank you all for showing up and helping us have a wonderful time!

Today is the harbor, with the USS Midway and San Diego Maritime Museum on the agenda.

Tomorrow, well, for me, that's work, for Beth and Joanie - Art Museums!