JAFOWL Lucheon January 26, 2010

Yesterday, January 26, I eagerly attended JAFOWL (Joint Armed Forces Officers Wives Luncheon).  This is an annual event since 1977 that brings the wives of our 5 services together for fun, food and ~ the best part ~ a great guest speaker. 

We have had SO MANY fabulous guest speaker s and I've been thrilled to see the past 8 ~

The full speech can be read here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-first-lady-joint-armed-forces-officers-wives-luncheon

The guest speaker this year? 

The First Lady, Michelle Obama. Yes! I took 133 pictures. Don't worry, I won't bore you with all of them - only my favorite 73.

Here's Miss Trish looking all gorgeous in her dress.  Makes me want to go dress shopping asap!

The Presidents of our 5 Wives clubs ~ Far right is our Navy president, Kelly Hruska. Go Navy!

VIP guests beginning to arrive

Air Force color guard arriving

K9 Unit. I said, "Aaaww, Cute puppy!" Air Force man said, "He'll rip your face off on my command."  I said, "Buy-bye."

More Air Force security & color guard arriving. Guest going through security magnetometers.

These are the two ladies that I met in the restroom while Laura Bush was in the bathroom stall tinkling! (more on that later, I promise) Intrigued? Just remember their faces, OK?  It's a great story..........OK FINE! I can't wait ~ I'll show you the pic real quickie ~

The 3 of us ambushed Mrs. Bush in 2002 for a picture outside the restrooms! That's why I wore my "First Ladies" gold blouse again, to bring me luck. Yes, I still had it in a dry cleaning bag in the back of my closet...but, it seemed to have shrunk a teensy bit. Damned dry closet air. Anyway, these were the two Army wives and we see each other every year! Go Navy!  

Now -----> back to 2010!

My girlfriend, Pam, in the purple suit, coming through security. FRISK HER! She's a dangerous one. Trust me. I have crazy bite marks to prove it.

My girlfriends are arriving! Jenny, Lynn & Pam

My scrapbooking partner Jennifer & My Mama Kay looking gorgeous, as usual.

My Girlfriends  xoxoxo  (Bummer the pic came out blurry)

Even more color guard

I snuck away from my "post" when things got slow to come see my girlfriends at coat check.  Pretty ladies Betty Kamp and Trish.  I really do want to steal that dress.

There's MY post ~ the lady in the blue dress relieved me so I could visit my coat check gals.  My job, after guests came up the stairs after checking into security, was to say "Ladies, coat check is up the stairs to the right, nametags, table assignments and check in is down the hall toward the left." I took my job very seriously as I knew it was a matter of national security! You are welcome, Secret Service.

The African American security guard down there searching purses saw me taking these photos and asked me, "Ma'am where are these pictures going to be shown?"  I thought I'd be funny and said, with a stone straight face "Oh, only somewhere overseas at an undisclosed location and I'm sorry, I cannot divulge that information." He glanced at the secret service standing next to me, who whispered to me, "I wouldn't be joking about that." Immediately I got nervous and said, "No, I was just kidding! I was trying to be make a jokie..." Right then they both burst out laughing. They had me going. Thanks. Now I have to go change my undies :o)

Good as gold! Me and Val Gas. She's adorable, funny & ARMY!

Then her Army president had to join us and made us look 4 feet tall.

380 of The First Lady's favorite Military wives ~ OK, is it just me or does the lady in the bottom left look (wow, if looks could kill....) like Ellen Burstyn?

The press setting up

I spy....Mama Kay in her pretty red dress!

Angela, Debbie & I waiting for the dinner bell. Don't I look cute in my crown? It's good to be Queen.

And this poor fella thinks he can control the 380 female stampede when he opens the rope.

BAH-HAHAAaahahahahaaaaa!

I was seated at the table next to The First Lady. I snuck a pic of her place card.

Nerdy & cool all at the same time, right?

The podium awaits

Pam & Mama Kay already seated. Too bad we couldn't sit together.

The best part of the luncheon.....dessert!  OK, Just kidding, but it was pretty fabulous.

I was secretly hoping that no one else would want to eat their desserts. Wishful thinking.

The press

Our centerpieces were the service flags

My awesome table ~ Table #5

We all got chocolates representing the 5 services. I got Air Force (but later I traded!)

Our program

JAFOWL President introducing the First Lady

Mrs. Obama is here!

She sure is a tall, statuesque beauty

Color Guard posting colors preparing for our National Anthem.

That's us, table 5. We were so close. Pinch me.

Singing the service songs. The lady in the peach blazer is Mrs. Mullen. Her husband is Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Mrs. Obama is 6 feet tall!  I did not know that.  Did you?

She loved how we all sang our service song with gusto & patriotism.  Wanna sing along?

The 26 minute video of Mrs. Obama's speech can be seen at

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/first-lady-announces-new-funding-military-families

The food was delicious!

Mrs. Obama takes the stage

Uuhh.....Are you lookin at ME?

Haha, that was my little movie trivia joke. Mrs. Obama thought it was hilarious.

At least I thought she did....maybe she just didn't like my singing voice.

Teleprompters helped Mrs. Obama deliver a well written speech announcing more spending budgets for military families.

She was a pure delight to listen to.

....."And finally this afternoon, I'd like all of us to give a well deserved round of applause to Mrs. Brenda Jorgensen who did an AWESOME job of leading all of you ladies to the coat check room safe & sound!  Let's give it up for Brenda everyone. Holla!"

"PSSST! Brenda! Pay attention! Stop taking pictures, get up and take a bow!"

The view from my seat

On each side of the room there were large screens so that everone would have a good view.

I had major camera envy. Lens envy. Tripod envy. Everything envy.

Mrs. Obama literally did a happy dance when we presented her with a box of service chocolates. She said that she would take them back to the White House and share them with her staff.

After her speach Mrs. Obama came through the line to shake hands with us.  All I really wanted to do was grab her brooch and run for the hills!  Sorta.  Don't judge me.

Oops...I think the creepy secret service guy read my mind. Look at him giving me the stink eye. Geesh, can't you take a jokie, Mister? He was all "NO cameras in The First Lady's face!"

Right after this shot I shook her hand and said, "Hey, girlfriend! You did great up there, love the dress! Can I have your brooch? Call me tomorrow and I'll pop by, we can let our dogs play together and sip Mai Thais in the Rose Garden, K? Kiss-kiss. HI to the Prez."

OK, maybe it went more like this...

"Thank you so much for coming to have lunch with us today, we really appreciated it." **yawn**

I can never, EVER say what I mean to say when I'm in the presence of a brooch that I'm trying to steal. Oh well. Live & learn.

Just as she passed...SNAP! Back to my pictures. Wow, she's beautiful! I know I keep saying it, but really, TV doesn't do her justice. She's stunning.

BYE, MICHELLE! (Now that we've met we are on a first name basis).

Call me & we'll do lunch! And give this guy the day off, ok? He's annoying!

Look at Trish back there (behind Mr. Creepy Secret Service guy...no offense) meeting Michelle.

Trish is so stinkin cute! She's gushing because Michelle told her she had a cute haircut!

OK, See you later, Michelle! Don't forget to call me! Seriously? He's still giving me the stink eye?

I'll distract him and listen to the Air Force band a little.....dum-de-dum...

Yup, the stink eye. Dreams of that brooch just disappeared before my very eyes. Thanks Creepy!

But on a happier note, dessert was superior. I used extreme will power to not lick my plate.

In the end I traded my chocolate for the only one that really mattered.

GO NAVY!

In the newspaper the next morning ~

Look, I don't care at all what your political views are or what you think of her husband; attending a luncheon with The First Lady is simply an amazing experience. This is my second luncheon with a First Lady (Mrs. Laura Bush) and I've attended one with President George Bush and all I can say is PINCH ME & God Bless America.
(........aaand I'm keeping my gold First Ladies blouse. Works like a charm & you never know when it's going to come in handy again. I'm really wanting to meet Oprah!)