Life at 1572: A ranting post

A ranting post

I have another ranting post, and this one has been making me mad for weeks. We have the Marine Corps ball coming up in November. Something we went to once, and have been able to take duty to get out of all the other years. Well, this year they have new command and his guy is some hard ass that is making everyone go to it. That is all fine and dandy yes, it is tradition and we should go. The problem I have with it is the cost to go to this thing. We got an email from our family readiness officer telling us the details and how much it is. It is going to cost us $140 just for tickets. $70 a person to just get a ticket to this thing! That doesn’t include all the other costs of the evening. The cost of a dress, the cost of getting a uniform ready, the cost of gas for the 100 mile round trip to get to this thing. In total we are talking 300-500 dollars for ONE evening. I am so mad I could spit nails. Oh, and if you want to knock back a couple of drinks to numb the fact that you’ve just spend a butt load of money, you’ll have to pay for those too.


In the past we have had the cost of at least one ticket covered if not both, and even a few drink tickets for everyone. They do fundraising like car washes etc. to raise the money. I haven’t seen ANY fundraising this year. I wrote our family readiness officer an email telling her I think it is a bit much to ask families to spend that much money on just tickets, and that there are all the other expenses that couples have to go to this thing. She wrote back saying that the reason is they have to pay for everything up front. Hmmm wonder why that hasn’t been a problem in the past? Also right before the ball depending on what they have in the ball fund they will start to reimburse Lance Cpl and below. So either way we are screwed because my husband is a Sergeant. Forget the fact that most Lance Cpls and below are single Marines, and the higher you go in rank the more likely a Marine is to be married with one if not more children.

I am furious over this whole thing. I think in this economy it is too much to force people to go to this thing and pay that much. I think the whole thing is really dumb. Basically prom with booze. You end up having to go to the prom section to get a formal gown. I’ve been to prom thankyouverymuch and I don’t need to go every year for the next 15 years. Tradition or not you can’t tell me there isn’t something they could do to scale the thing down. I asked a friend about her ball and it is only $25 they are holding on their base, and they are providing transportation to it! I am ticked!

7 comments:

Our family is a little more than a Patrick sandwich. said...

Completely understand! The past two years ours has been down in Myrtle Beach (three hour drive each way) and our tickers cost the same. We went the first year and hated it, and last year Patrick had to actually take leave so they wouldn't make him go down there and be on the working party-I had just had Maya about 2 weeks before, and I didn't want him being that far away with the car! I think it's so unfair to make the ball like that, spending so much money right before the holidays... and then none of us can enjoy it because we are thinking about what the money could've been better spent on! I'm almost glad for the deployment this year so we don't even have to think about it!

Aunt Janet said...

What would happen if you polietly declined the invitation?Sorry but I am saving for a trip back home for the holidays-- or better yet be here already & say "wish we could be there". Will there be some sort of "example made" in taking a stand of refusal. Or to tell them in order to be able to attend this great evening, several fundraisers will have to done to lower the cost or we will have to decline this year, please accept our apology now. Sounds simple BUT isn't! Who in the world is going to watch everyone's kids if all is at a party?? Hope you find a way out!


oooxxx

Aunt Janet said...

Another idea would be to beat them at their own game, Only ONE of you go to show that the evening is too much money, when they ask where is your better half, let it be known why only one could attend.

Just a thought.

oooxxx

Unknown said...

Go AWOL! LOL

Unknown said...

I think I'd have to be sick and not able to go!!!!

Amy said...

That is the thing there is no saying thanks but no thanks. We don't have a choice. We are basically being ordered to go to this thing. Anyone that says they can't/won't go have to face the Sargeant Major. You don't want to do that. Plus we had to buy our tickets this week. That is the other reason I am mad is we had to buy them so far in advance. So if for chance one of us can't go or something happens we are screwed we don't get our money back. People had to pay that are due to have babies cases like that. If they happend to not be able to go. Well that's just too bad you already paid. I did suggest fundraising stuff we have done in the past, and that didn't go very far. People are thinking we aren't going to get our money back anyway. They are just saying that to shut people up. The money will more than likely go back into the ball fund for next year.

Mandi- We went to our first one and hated it too! We've got out of it before because Zach was deployed or he was able to choose duty. I'm glad you totally know what I mean about this thing!

Amy

Teresa AKA: T said...

Hi, I'm just stopping by.... I'm in the Snap Shots of a Good Life class with you... I'm wanting to get in on the group on facebook... Can you send me a link... Oh and I noticed that you have Jolene George on your blog list, She is the sweetest lady I know... Small world... Well anyways... TTL.... T

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