Moving right along.  Super quiet day for me as all the chaplains were busy with their various services.  My day was highlighted by meeting a female JAG office from Huntington Beach, CA.  I just happened to sit down next to her at breakfast and noticed that she was reading a book on Oriental rugs, so I struck up a conversation about what she was shopping for.  She is a single woman, and is studying very expensive silk, Persian rugs, which she plans to put on the floor!  She has already bought 2, at, like, 4K each!  I, on the other hand, am looking for an inexpensive, machine made rug.  In negotiation to buy the one in the attached photo. 

She is also the one who worked on our legal opinion re:  wine at the seder.  It is "known" that wine is permitted for religious rituals, but, lo and behold, no one could find a memo to give to the DFAC (Dining Facility), so they wouldn't let us use a room there.  It's kind of better: we'll meet at the Chapel Annex where we will have less room but where we will also have no time limit.  (DFAC closes at 2000)  Wine is described as a central feature of the celebration and therefore allowed as an exception to the general policy that prohibits ALL consumption of alcohol for US forces.

I ran into her and her colleague at lunch, and she took us to the jewelry shop where she had bought 4 necklaces today!

My big purchase of the day, on the other hand, was another towel to replace the one I bought the other day.  I left that on a hook in the bathroom and it immediately disappeared.  Don't think I'll make that mistake again! 

I did do a bit of work today- drafted an invocation for the Women's History Day luncheon tomorrow-

WE COME TOGETHER THIS MORNING IN A SPIRIT OF PRIDE AND CELEBRATION, HONORING
THE WOMEN WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US AND RECOGNIZING THEIR DEDICATION AND
SACRIFICE. ACCORDING TO THE BOOK OF GENESIS, AS THE WORLD CAME INTO BEING,
WOMEN WERE FORMED AS THE PINNACLE OF CREATION. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE
STRUGGLED FOR RECOGNITION IN A MAN'S WORLD.  WE GIVE THANKS FOR HAVING LIVED
TO REACH A TIME WHERE WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE ALL THAT WE CAN BE, AND
WHERE WE ARE EACH FREE TO PURSUE OUR PASSIONS AND OUR DREAMS.  IN 1851, IN
AN ADDRESS TO THE AKRON WOMEN'S CONVENTION, SOJOURNER TRUTH NOTED THAT, "IF
THE FIRST WOMAN GOD EVER MADE WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE
DOWN ALONE, THESE WOMEN TOGETHER OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO TURN IT BACK, AND GET
IT RIGHT SIDE UP AGAIN."  TOGETHER MAY WE MERIT TO TURN THE WORLD RIGHT SIDE UP AGAIN.
WE PRAY FOR OUR SISTERS EVERYWHERE, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEPLOYED IN HARM'S WAY- MAY THEY BE BLESSED WITH STRENGTH, COURAGE AND SAFETY.  WE GIVE THANKS FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE PARTNERS IN
BUILDING A JUST AND FAIR SOCIETY, WHERE EVERY PERSON, REGARDLESS OF GENDER,CAN FULFILL HIS OR HER OWN UNIQUE DESTINY.

BTW- Nazi, in the photo, is the name of the shop owner!