We went to a military ball last night. The food was good, the students were well dressed and mostly well behaved. The color guard brought in the flags nicely, the saber team formed an arch for the "court" to be presented thru, and the change of command ceremony went well.
The issues BEGAN when the dance "music" started........after the third "song" that was all drums and unintelligible mumbling - the CDs were switched to a radio station. After the second "song" that we could understand the (not acceptable) language in the lyrics, the radio station was switched to soft jazz. The volume was still high enough to scramble eggs in the shell from the vibration - while helping with cleanup, I picked up the cash box (ticket sales). It was buzzing in my hands...........
After last dance at 10:45 pm, the last of the parents showed up at 11:30 pm.
The staff was rearranging the lobby area of the venue when a bottle of shoe polish (actually edge dressing - which dries rather rubbery and can only be removed with a sand blaster........) was found on a picture frame. And under an overstuffed arm chair that was out of place, there were three blotches of BLACK on the carpet............someone on the saber team or possibly the color guard DIDN'T do their shoe polishing at home........and got something on the carpet.......and tried to HIDE it instead of owning up.
I won't do more than mention the accident that set one of the folding tables trying to fold up while still set with a burning candle in the centerpiece - THAT was recognized as an accident by all the staff, guests, teachers, and chaperones - even if there were some broken glasses and plates.........
But the lead teacher and his wife (yeah, VorFemme by name) ended up back at the club this morning with a steam cleaner, a scrub brush, carpet cleaning fluid, and towels - hoping that the stuff could be removed without the school having to PAY for all new carpet in the lobby and two halls.........
It looks like the kids lucked out - although the NEXT military ball will have a lot more "hands-on" approach with the teachers checking that the location has been arranged ahead of time (do not call restaurants and clubs during lunch to talk to a caterer or reserve a location), the music for any dancing will have to be "auditioned" (no rap with lyrics not suitable for mixed company - whether gender or age are used as the criteria), and the kids will be told that if they aren't READY before the party - they can't get ready AT the party.
One couple turned up over an hour late because her hair stylist ran late...........
Another couple failed to show up for unknown reasons - DH is wondering if there will be a parent (known as a Hominid Jerkus) will be in his face tomorrow about THAT situation.........
And his wife is rather upset about having to spend her Sunday morning steam cleaning a three foot by five foot patch of carpet.........
