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Comment by Ellen65 on August 6, 2013 at 12:30pm

We went to Sarge's meet and great, but had been on the road for seven hours getting there so we were a little late.  We had already eaten so just wanted to meet others and get info.  It was dark and all tables were taken, thankfully another family let us join them, it was really nice to visit with them, but we didn't get to roam around and meet others, kind of disappointing, I don't know what I was expecting, maybe we were just tired.  I think I read here that someone else had a hard time hearing, we did too, the acoustics where we were sitting maybe.  We stayed through the tribute to veterans, but left soon after so probably missed the info part of the night.  I have to say, the kids singing with the music was adorable!  The little boy holding the flag had such a sweet voice and new all the words!   I applaud Sarge and his wife for all they do, just didn't work out for us.  

Comment by Ellen65 on August 6, 2013 at 12:20pm

I live in Southern Illinois, the whole toll road thing was new to me, we hit three on the way up and three on the way back, but paid different amounts each way, so strange, I don't mind paying so much, but having to slow down or stop to pay three different times was a pain.  My younger son was egging me on on the one without the attendant, telling me to keep driving and toss in the coins... kept telling me to not slow down... eeeek!  Once we were there, we didn't pay any, but we stayed in Gurnee/Waugegan and the base area.  I'd be surprised if I paid all I was suppose to.

Comment by Ellen65 on August 6, 2013 at 12:16pm

proudmom I was praying and hoping after I read your message that you would be able to get into PIR somehow, so sorry you didn't, but very glad you made it to GL and were able to spend time with you Sailor!  

Comment by Ellen65 on August 6, 2013 at 12:14pm

Trying to catch up here!!!  My son is  in E-PACT at GL, so we spent the weekend there.  PIR was very very neat, an experience to remember!  We were able to pick my son up Friday afternoon and Saturday and Sunday mornings and took him back in the evening about an hour before he was due back.  We didn't do a lot, ate out, steak for supper of course, and listened to BC stories and I loved hearing the stores, when he finished one, I'd prompt him for more like "What was the best? and what was the worst?  Funny moments?  Sunday morning before it became crowded, we went to Gurnee Mills mall for a bit and he was able to get a few things.  We brought our laptop with us to hotel, so he was able to see some of the pics that were posted here, he really liked seeing them, recognizing some, seeing what it looked like from the bleacher view.  He also set up his cell phone as a WiFi "hotspot".  I'm not real familiar with the technology on that one, but, his phone is still on my Verizon Wireless service since it's still the most economical, just $10 a month for service and $30 for his data plan and I get a 28% discount through my work.  So adding the "hotspot" functionality to his phone is just an additional $20 per month with no contract changes.  Verizon at the mall wanted to "hotspot" separately to his #, $50 per month with a two year contract.  So, my advise, if your sailor is on your cell account and wants hotspot service, please check with your provider.  When we returned home Monday, the pictures he ordered were here, I had left a note for FedEx to leave any packages and they did.  He ordered a large package with the Sailor's Creed frame, very nice on my wall already, and I imagine the DVD will be delivered here also.  He didn't get the Cruise Book, so I'm downloading all the pictures I can find and will attempt to make a scrap book for him (not really my thing, but I'll give it my best).  He probably won't think much of it now, but in 20 or 30 years, he'll treasure it.  It's nice to be able to text with him again now that he has his phone and seems to be finding his way so far (the one full day he's been there anyway).  All the posts here are sent to my phone as email so I read them all, but I don't get on the pc much to post, that's my justification for such a long message, I'm on vacation the rest of the week and have time for pc.  I'm glad everyone here seems to have enjoyed the time with their Sailors.

Comment by CatMom509 on August 6, 2013 at 5:23am

proudmom,

Glad that you arrived at Great Lakes safely and got to hug and spend time with your precious Sailor!!  If you ordered the PIR dvd, you will also have that as a momento of the ceremony and can watch it and pause it when you see your Sailor over and over again~~

Did you call the train operator to find out if anyone ever turned in your driver's license?  Hope so.

Comment by proudmom of PH on August 5, 2013 at 11:41pm

Diannep-thanks for the kind thoughts you sent my way...just another thing in a long line of goof-ups by me. Also wanted to add that we avoided all tolls by taking hwy 41 instead of 94.

Comment by diannep on August 5, 2013 at 11:28pm

Thanks for all of the info, ladies!  So appreciated!

proudmom  So very sorry....was so hoping for a miracle for you to get in.  But your suggestion is a great one....will be passing that along!

Comment by CHC on August 5, 2013 at 9:30pm

We hit 4 or 5 tolls coming into Chicago and two leaving. The whole weekend however we hit none. We ran arround gurnee Friday, Chicago on Saturday, and went to a Ren Faire just inside Wisconsin on Sunday. But then, I messed up our reservations, I somehow made reservations for the following week, and we ended up having to do Days Inn on Lewis. The neighborhood was a little shady and the outside made me nervous at first look but the room was very clean and quiet, the bathroom was recently remodeled. The staff helpfull and didn't mind my mom asking for an extra 3 coffees a day. The only thing is they do not clean unless you ask. There was a large grocery and a target a block away and a state beach a few blocks down.
All in all I can't complain.
My son will be in Great Lakes for a while, over a year, and we found some places we'll visit again and some we won't.
We tried to time our meals in off times so as to avoid crowds. We'd start early, my SA would get out just after 6am, and have a light breakfast then brunch about 10am. Then have an early dinner about 3 ish and maybe just a snack later. Having nice lunches is cheaper than nice dinners. And timing meals in between times avoided crowds so we had a quieter meal with my son.
We drove down to Chicago early and paid to park at the pier before most things were open. We walked to "the bean" to take pictures then took a cab down to the shops on Michigan. That way we were able to stow our bags before playing at the pier. Parking was pricey at $25 but it was for all day and we didn't have to lug our bags on the train.
The only thing we missed was an authentic Chicago dog :(

Comment by proudmom of PH on August 5, 2013 at 6:32pm

Well I have an odd thing to add...take two forms of government ID in case you lose your drivers license on the way there. ASK ME HOW I KNOW!!! I had just taken my passport out of my purse before I left for GL (trying to be responsible-ha!) so when I lost my DL on the train I had nothing. Yep-traveled all the way from east Texas to GL and didn't get to go to the ceremony--so glad it was streamed!!

Comment by JoeR's Mom (Ship 04 Div 283) on August 5, 2013 at 6:16pm

catMom I totally agree, I tell you it's weird, we also went to Midway airport and back to Waukegan, maybe the GPS was set on roads with no tolls? (it has that setting). I don't know I tell you! lol   I am always on the overly insured part, for example I had a tiny umbrella AND I brought a raincoat, thank goodness because it stormed on Friday! kept my hair nice a pretty! :)

Also I do recommend getting insurance on the rentals even if you have your own, we did and good thing, because the windshield had a chip when we returned it (no clue how it got there), but non the less the insurance covers and we were all good.

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