Comment

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on February 3, 2009 at 1:58pm

Anne I'm so sorry to hear about Jeremy's problems at P'cola it seems that it is a common thing at P'cola for classes to be backed up weeks or months. I can't imagine how it must be for all those guys and gals down there just waiting to class up. At least you know for the time being they are getting paid and they are safe.

Judy, I did not realize that Chris had classed up. That's great! I wish that Chris (mine) knew more of the MA's so he could introduce me to your son. I know one of the moms that I talk to at another page, her son is in my Chris' class, (his name is also Chris!) and my Chris does know him so I hope I do get to meet him this weekend and even told my Chris to invite Anna's Chris for dinner with us Saturday. Wow, did you keep up with the three Chrises? I'll give yours a squeeze for you if I can find out which one he is. I'll just run around the base yelling, all Christophers please report to the front and then I'll yell, ok who has the mom named Judy? Who has the mom named Anna? Who has a mom....? lol No, I won't embarass them all like that. ;) I will take a good look at his pic and see if I can spot him.

Lori, you can ditto that. I will attempt to find Jake as well. Does he have liberty to go off base yet? or have you heard that he will by weekend? I suppose I could try to collect them and take them out to the beach for pics. Surely the waves are not a threat to security.

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on February 2, 2009 at 10:58pm

Thanks Judy. i don't think the weather could be much colder or snowier (is that a word?) than GL a month ago! The weather will be fine whatever it does!!!

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on February 2, 2009 at 10:38pm

Gail congrats on that sailor!! I know you are proud. He will have a couple of days of processing at his school as well and "learning the ropes" there. He will have some time to kind of look around and get acquainted with the base if he's lucky. Best of luck to him, he's a step closer to doing what he wanted to do.

Judy, Oceana, NAS is the main base for the Dam Neck Annex. As we've talked before Dam Neck is small in population, pretty big by my way of thinking in terms of land, but some of the administrative stuff is appearantly done at Oceana. You shouldn't have to worry about going over there or if you do then you won't have to until Sunday when the Pass and ID office is open. Chris can (would have to) take you over there if you need to get your pass extended beyond what the guards at the gate are authorized to give to you. My Chris says that he heard from one of the Petty Officers that the guards should be able to do your extensions for you. You will only be issued a 24 hour pass at the gate. If you get your pass at 7:00pm on Friday evening you would need to get another pass on Saturday evening for another 24 hours. If you plan on being there early enough on Friday then he could take you to the Pass and ID office over at Oceana, Friday afternoon and you could just get a weekend pass and be done with it. Anytime the Pass and ID office is open you have to go there to get your pass. We had to just to be there a couple of hours. If the pass and ID office is closed (like later Friday night or Saturday), the guard at the Dam Neck base can issue a short-term (24 hr) pass.
Oceana is like 3 or 4 miles from the Dam Neck Main Gate. Easy to find. You just take Dam Neck Rd. back out till you get to General Booth and make a rt. on Gen. Booth. I believe it's about the second? light you will turn left and the pass and ID office is a small building on the rt, directly across from the NEX. I'm pretty sure your Chris has checked out the NEX at Oceana since it is much bigger than the one at Dam Neck. He won't have a problem finding it. The guard at the Dam Neck gate can tell you which rd to turn off of Gen Booth. Actually I can tell you after I go next weekend. I won't need to go to the office because I won't be there a full 24 hours but I'm going with Chris to the NEX over there so I can let you know.
If you have any questions, let me know and I'll try to find out while I'm there. You need anything taken to your Chris while I'm going?

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on February 2, 2009 at 7:09pm

Judy, What I was told by the ?Fleet Family Services Rep? today is that I suppose you will need to call Chris when you are close to the base and he will have to walk to the Main Gate at Dam Neck, they will likely pull you over to the side while other trafic goes through. He will have to be your "escort" (just like GL) anytime you are out on the base. He will come to the gate and show his ID and the guard at the gate then will be authorized to give you a 24 hr pass for your vehicle.
When I was there before they needed my NCDL, my car registeration and proof of insurance. I do not know if like at GL everyone has to have ID or not. I did not think to ask. From what the guy at the NAVY Lodge told me yesterday is that if I am in my vehicle going on or off base I need my pass but I don't think Chris has to actually be inside the vehicle with me. I asked if once given a pass and checked in at the Lodge if I was more or less free to come and go and he said yes.
When we were there in Nov. everyone was very professional but very nice and helpful. It's a bit intimidating at first because you've got these guys standing there with rifles and your afraid of going into a sensitive area or doing the wrong thing. If you have any questions just ask the guards, they will let you know very quickly where you can and can't go without your sailor.
I know your Chris has been there longer than mine. Will he be a phase 3 by then? If so then he should be able to just stay with you for the weekend. I believe I read that they generally spend 3 weeks at phase 2.
I have always heard two big rules on ANY base. No cell phone use while driving (I don't know if that's for just the driver so I just say for all occupants) and obey all speed limit and traffic signs.

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on February 2, 2009 at 5:25pm

If you already have reservations then chances are you know as much as I. :) I got reservations at the NAVY Lodge for Saturday night. Check-in is at 3:00 and Chris will have to check us in. The pass and ID office at Oceana is closed on Saturday but is open on Sunday from 1:00-3:00pm so you can go over then to extend your pass if you need to. Chris will need to meet you at the Dam Neck gate and if it is Saturday then the guard at the gate can issue a 24-hour pass then you would have to get the extension on Sunday.
I also am sorry that I can't wait the extra week but since I'm taking Chris' car I need to do it this weekend or wait until the end of the month. He will have duty the Sunday that you are there and on Saturday the following weekend. He is tired of spending $4-6 everytime he and a few others want to go off base somewhere so he thinks it will be just as cheap in the end to have his car. Then he also does not have to wait until 5 other people want to go.
I am glad however that you are getting to make the trip to see your Chris. I'm sure it will be exciting for them to show off a bit of their "home". Turtle Power!

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on February 2, 2009 at 5:06pm

Lea I do pray you get to make the trip to see your son. Have fun, it's a very interesting area. Patriot's Point has several old ships on display that you can tour and downtown historic Charleston is very worthy of a visit.

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on February 2, 2009 at 5:03pm

Judy, if you do decide to go to Dam Neck to visit Chris sometime while he is at school, let me know and I can give you some info. I've got most of my end worked out to get my Chris' car to him this weekend so I've found out a few things.

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on February 2, 2009 at 11:55am

Hey Bernadette! Of course light sabers count! That was Chris' second sword. I think that since his class started last week he's not had a lot of time to devote to thoughts of sword play. When I take his car to him next weekend though he does want to go back and look again at the one he found last weekend. I'm sure that by the time he finishes "C" school he will have added a couple to his collection.

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on January 31, 2009 at 2:01pm

It's been fun moms but I've got to get a shower and be down the road in less than an hour. Catch you all later! It was bodacious dudettes!

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on January 31, 2009 at 1:54pm

LOL! I quite agree with you Judy. The swords do just quietly sit their own little corner of his closet for the time being. I have considered that while he is gone and I am laid off I should make him a nice display rack to hang on his wall. I just don't know how many to accomodate for. He will likely collect them faster than I can build display racks.

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