Drunk Safari

We toured a Boeing factory north of Seattle, huge hangars (literally 1 kilometer long) with various 737s and 787s being built. Had a bit of a snafu with only 34 headsets provided to hear the guide, when there were about 40 of us (the spouses had the morning off), so it was a struggle to hear what was being said among all the construction. Still pretty cool to see, though. Picture was taken in front of an engine that's probably as big as my garage. Including the roof.
The General audibled again, so while everyone had lunch there, we headed back to the hotel before turning around and visiting the local Museum of Flight, headed by a former NASA astronaut. The General is on the advisory board for the AF Museum, so he wanted to get a tour and ask if there was anything the Air Force could do for her. Missed out on getting hit in the head by a tossed fish at the famous Pike Market downtown, but I enjoyed getting a personalized, behind-the-scenes tour (they have a really cool space exhibit I could have stayed in all day).
Our last big meal together was on the coast, waves lapping below our balcony, a seagull perched in a nest. Traditionally (so I hear), the attaches give thanks and gifts upon our return, but the Air Commodore said that he didn't like that time period since everyone's tired and just wants to go home, so he used the opportunity during dessert. It was a wonderful experience -- it wasn't just polite applause, but a resounding, foot-stomping roar from the crowd, thanking the Air Staff for their hard work -- they even called me up to accept a small gift bag ("What?! I work at DTRA!"), and I was very touched. ("I hope we haven't scared you away," whispered the Commodore's wife.)
Back at the hotel, another hospitality suite was set up (the attaches actually provide the alcohol, specialties from their country), but there were only about a dozen or so folks mulling around, so I was looking forward to an early night. But suddenly, a group of twenty of them came roaring in -- literally -- in their silly Hotel Monaco animal-patterned robes. (Also pants, for the most part.) There were zebras and leopards and one giraffe on the German. It's like a kid's book for drunk adults. The colonel from Malaysia got up on a chair, banged a plate with a fork, and told everyone to make 'grr' faces for the camera. Everyone was having a blast. Amazingly, after five long, activity-packed days. They were still having fun.
I helped clean up the drinks when it was over, boxing up the extra unopened bottles for whatever next activity, then, after making sure I had everything the General needed in the morning, repacking my bags, and checking the computer one last time, I went to bed at 1, with a 5 o'clock wake-up scheduled.