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Comment by Vickie - Rooney's mom on October 29, 2008 at 5:33pm

OMG - thanks for posting. I can't wait to see it in person.

Comment by Sue-Pillowcase lady on October 29, 2008 at 1:19am

Shelly, thanks for posting that video. We had hoped to be in Hawaii when the Lincoln pulled in, but they came a day earlier and it cost too much to change the tickets. So this was a treat to see a carrier "creeping" into the harbor. It is slow. They didn't man the rails coming in on my tiger cruise, just leaving Hawaii.

Comment by Sue-Pillowcase lady on October 28, 2008 at 11:42pm

Donna, I was wondering about a cot in the cube. thanks for clearing that up.
Ben did say that his commander wouldn't accept an application without the reservations, so you are right Donna. Sheryl, listen to what your child says. Ben sent us an email that the commander had written. I don't know how many were from his squadron.
It was fun being in his environment. It took me awhile to get used to calling everyone by their last names. I got to the point that I referred to Ben as Lamberson also. Sometimes I would get blank looks when I said Ben.

Comment by Sue-Pillowcase lady on October 28, 2008 at 3:10pm

We had planned to wait to book our flight until we got the aprroval, but Ben had a fit, said we had to make the reservations. There was a space on the app for the information. Maybe that was just his squadron's rules. We had to have our paperwork in by 8-1 for a 10-1 tiger cruise. Got the info at the beginning of July.
Meds: as long as everything is in a 1 quart clear plastic bag, they don't really make an issue. I had a variety of meds in 1 med bottle-no problem. But do check out the TSA website, great info.
WOOHOO! My blog on kvoa.com has finally been completed. All 8 days are now there.
And Sheryl, when is your tiger cruise? That is very exciting.

Comment by Sue-Pillowcase lady on October 28, 2008 at 11:32am

They didn't man the rails coming into San Diego, but leaving Pearl Harbor! what a moving experience. My son was one of the sailors and we stood behind him the whole time, not directly, but in the shade of a plane. When they passed by the USS Arizona Memorial, they paid honors. Makes cry to remember.
It is slow going out of port and the sailors stand at attention or at parade dress. Officers went along the line behind them and reminded them to flex their knees and told them to step back if they felt dizzy.
Ben wasn't too thrilled about doing it, and now I understand why. It is hard! They are out in the sun and it was warm up there and the uniforms are hot. But he was happy that I was so excited about it and that made it good for him.
Well, a carrier is huge! We toured the Midway in March when he deployed and the Lincoln is much bigger. Did you watch the video that Shelly put on here?

Comment by Sue-Pillowcase lady on October 28, 2008 at 9:27am

We got the applications in early July for a 10-1 pull in date. The Lincoln actually pulled in on 9-30. We had to have our applications in by 8-1, although the Lincoln website said 8-12. But Ben's commander wanted his squadron's apps in by 8-1. It is done on a 1st served basis, availability and the health screening. And heads up: you have to have your flight booked when you apply. Ben wouldn't even turn our apps in until we booked a flight. They tell you to get refunded tickets, that means first class. That would've been almost $1,000 each. We figured it was cheaper to just book a flight regular class and pay the change fee if necessary. and we didn't have to do that.

Comment by Sue-Pillowcase lady on October 28, 2008 at 9:13am

we pulled out of Pearl Harbor about 9 am on Friday, 10-3 and pulled into San Diego about 7 am on Wed, 10-8. If you are considering travel time, we had to board the ship on Thursday 10-2. We flew in on 10-1, so we could rent a car and take the boys (Ben and his 2 buddies) to the beaches. We stayed at the Navy Lodge on Ford Island.

Comment by Sue-Pillowcase lady on October 28, 2008 at 12:43am

WOW Shelly! Your video had me crying as well as goosebumps. 3 weeks ago I was on the Abraham Lincoln on the tiger cruise. The video brings back lots of great memories.
What is Tiger Cruise? If you go back several pages, you can read lots of chatter about it from me and a couple of others who have been on it. and if you to to www.kvoa.com, other features, guest blog, you can read the blog that I wrote for my local news station. Interesting, day 8 didn't get posted, but I found that one on a Lincoln menu paper.
It was an experience of a lifetime for this mom. Enjoy!

Comment by Sue-Pillowcase lady on October 26, 2008 at 7:35pm

Hi Donna,
do you mean there was a cot in the cube? That would be tight quarters. Did you get bruises? I am still sporting a couple, but they are fading. I had 2 dark ones on my left upper arm and have absolutely no idea how I got them. The ones on my right arm were from my rack and trying to get it down without shutting it on my hand.

Comment by Sue-Pillowcase lady on October 26, 2008 at 10:00am

p.s. I have been wearing my tiger cruise t-shirt everywhere. I call attention to it to people. I can't help bragging about the experience and how proud I am of all sailors. I also have the my pin on my purse-I am now a "tiger warfare specialist". Donna, did you get a pin and certificate the night of the ice cream social?

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