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Comment by AJ on May 6, 2011 at 7:56pm

Back now for Mary and Hurley ..... Mary .... you've discovered by now that no, Dereck won't need an oven for those cakes in a jar, because you will have already baked it .... but that was another huge chuckle and smile today to be reminded of his oven dreams and aspirations.  Whew ... close call, but all is safe ... for now.  :)  Your youngest son's school situation sounds ri-dic-u-lous.  On principle, you don't want your son to have to do a detention when you know he had a good reason, nor do you want to have to drive him there on a precious Saturday morning .... and then it seems like it is easier to just have him do the stupid detention and have it done with than to fight a losing battle.  Poor kid .... I'd like to see the administration walk from class to class with a bad ankle in a brace in the amount of time they thought he should do it.  Aaron sprained his ankle really badly playing basketball one year, on crutches, etc., Fortunately his school was more tolerant.

 

Ah Hurley .... what would we do without you?  I love what you add here to this treasure trove of spirited gals.  And boy do I hear you on the first time in 32 years to be without your children on Mother's Day.  Same here, 28 years.  It is one of my favorite days of the year as well and my boys always did such special things for me.  I will remember those years fondly this year .... and raise a glass of something to the new kind of Mom that I have to become.  I hope the upgrade takes!  Thank you for your prayers .... it means so much.  

I can understand that there was a little prickle of disappointment that Marc didn't mention Mother's Day .... with all that he is dealing with each day, I imagine it didn't even cross his mind.  I have a video that I will post here (it might just be the link).  It is about a mother robin and her nest of birds and truly drives home the empty nest feeling.  The way this momma bird looks when she comes back with the worm to an empty nest is priceless ..... and so real .... one feels it viscerally.  

What an amazing baby, toddler, child, adolescent, teenager, adult you have in your son.  I'd love to know how things end up for him in the future.  What a gift.

And the fact that he is partially deaf and was able to cover for it for so many years without anyone figuring it out, is just amazing.  Super intelligent and I would imagine a high sensate as well.  I would love to think that the Navy would have a perfect job for him ... and it is great that Matt is encouraging him to check it out.  I sure hope he does.  Like you said, he has sooo very much to offer and it would be a loss not to have him.

I'm having a hard time tonight keeping my thoughts straight and forgetting what I want to say .... so I should resume tomorrow.  

Here is that link I mentioned above.  I loved it.  You will probably need to copy and paste it into your browser.  Let me know what you think Hurley.

 

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9479342&server=vimeo.com...

Comment by hurleyl8dyShip6Div943PIR9/10/10 on May 6, 2011 at 6:16pm

MrsB, my prayers are with you and your family. I am so sorry for your loss.

Thank you AJ! I was going to ask you for the recipe. I can not wait to buy my mason jars! Such a great thing to send! Love it! Hey, don't beat yourself up over whether or not it was your actions for you son enlisting. Be proud of a very mature decision he made. My heart goes out to you and all you've been through. I will keep you in my prayers .

Donna-amends mom, thank you for your nice comments. Funny how these kids want us ( or our food or stove in Marys case) I guess they want to still be connected one way or another with the comforts of home.

Hey Mary, you need to experiment with those mason jar cakes and feed them to Derrick... But then I wonder if he will eat just about anything. Ah, just send him the stove and save the mason jars for Bobbi pins!

Iris, no jail for you. I think they carb you up in there. They get feed better than some people on the other side of the fence. Get the tan instead. Everyone looks thinner with a tan! I wish I could tan, miss it, always felt better when tan!

Oh and iris I agree with d o. You may need that camo knife of Amandas! Hmmm your too sweet for jail, just picturing you all positive and all.... ; )

Ok, guess I've over spent my time and my middle finger is hurting!

RSL ( thanks for the answer d o)

Comment by AJ on May 6, 2011 at 5:43pm

This is one of the reasons why this group is still together ..... we are not done looking out for each other .... sharing happinesses and sadnesses and challenges and victories ..... sharing valuable information ...... and listening, caring, and making each other smile!   

 

d o .... I chuckled out loud when I read how muscular Iris is going to get in prison protecting herself from becoming anyone's B**** .... and I have to admit that I'm amazed at the stamina that Iris seems to sustain.  And let me tell you girls, I can hook you up with almost anything you would want, including 'muffin top' removal.  I don't think I mentioned it when I mentioned the dermatology work I just had done, but the whole appointment (approximately one hour and 15 minutes) was $80 and would have cost me over $400 up there and I would have been rushed through in 15 or 20 minutes.  So, in seriousness, do keep it in mind if you need to have work done.

Thanks d o, too, for adding your story about the guilt of enlistment.  Aaron and your foster son joined 'out of the blue', so it was not a large jump to make it into the 'guilt' category.  I will never know for sure ..... and I've heard so little from Aaron since they deployed, that I don't really know how he's feeling about things presently.  I DO know that he felt that sense of accomplishment that you mentioned.  And I do also know that I am extraordinarily proud of him.  I love your idea of giving yourself the gift of 'release from guilt on why my sons joined the service'.  I will spend some time with that one.  It sounds like you are well on your way to conquering that one and I am in awe.  I hope that I can join you on the other side of the bridge.  I am equally glad that we have been able to share that here.  I keep saying to myself and to others that .... 'I am not a good Navy Mom' .... I see quite clearly that I must stop saying that!  I have never hesitated saying that I was a good Mom .... but I've added that bit and actually, maybe, a little-teeny-tiny part of me IS a good Navy Mom.  I'll work on that this weekend!  Thanks d o for sharing and being an inspiration for me.

 

Mrs. B - I will certainly have prayers ascending for your family and this unexpected loss of life.  And to whatever his name is, 'Thank you Sailor for your service to this country'.  

 

Proud Donna - I'm in the same boat (ha!) as you with very little information.  Even when we weren't in River City, I didn't get many details from my son.  I'm not even sure what his day's are like, which is why I finally sat down and watched that PBS program 'Carrier'.  It did help a bit.  Have you seen it?  I get two sentence e-mails when I'm really lucky and a few words if he is rushed.  From what people tell me, the ships are so very busy and sometimes it is hard for our Sailors to get at the computers (apparently the Marines hog them all the time) ... or so I've heard from my other group.  Anyway, sorry that her communications have been short and to the point of what she needs .... I'm hoping for both of us that the communications will pick up.  :)

 

More for Hurley and Mary as soon as I can come back to my computer.  Have to run a quick errand.  

Comment by d o on May 6, 2011 at 4:29pm

Yes Iris, I think you would lose weight in jail, but the muscle you'd put on trying to defend yourself from everyone trying to make you their B**** would counter act it, and you'd still weigh the same on the scale.  So maybe there are worse things in life than a little muffin top.  I think you're awesome even caring about that after all you've been through.  I just know the instant fat-be-gone is going to come on the market any day now, and none of us will ever have to worry about it again, if not, maybe AJ will hook us up down south and we'll have it manually removed.

Speaking of you AJ, I think you brought up a valid point about the guilt of why our kids joined the Navy.  I've often felt that very same thing...except with my foster son.  He joined the Navy out of the blue.  When I asked him why he said, "I just want to see if I can handle boot camp, if I don't like it, I'll quit."  How do you argue with that?!  They really could leave if they wanted to.  I think they enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that they have achieved all on their own.  Come to think of it, that makes me pretty darn proud too.  I think I'll give myself the gift of "release from guilt on why my sons joined the service" this Mother's Day.  I think we all should!  I'm glad we talked about this because while all moms are special, Navy Moms are all that and more!!!  Happy Mother's Day everyone!  Enjoy your gift.

Mrs. B, I'm sorry to hear you are in mourning.  You will be in my prayers.

Mary, I'm sorry you still have kids in high school, you will be in my prayers also.  I might be trying to be a little funny, but since I'm in and out of the schools I understood everything you posted, and I empathize.  I've even seen it.  It's a boot camp all its own.  Keep your chin up, they eventually graduate. (I say this as my 24 year old is taking his GED Tues and Wed.)   RSL

 

Can't wait to try that recipe.  THANKS for sharing!

 

Comment by hurleyl8dyShip6Div943PIR9/10/10 on May 6, 2011 at 3:58pm

Ok, so for the first time in my 32 years of being a mom I will not have any of my kids here for Mothers Day. You see, it's my favorite day of the year. I am Queen (well at least for a day) and my boys went as far as getting me a crown which I dutifully wear from the time I wake until the time my head hits the pillow. But this year is so strange, all my little chicks flew the coop seemingly all at once. Both my husband and I are not warming to this empty nest thing. I kinda felt a twinge of self pity when I got my letter from Marc and he never mentioned Mothers Day. I know, I know, the poor kid has so much on his mind other than Mothers Day. I got over that real quick. Ok well enough of my self pity party, I am sure we all can sympathize with this story one way or another.

Yes my oldest is a Wiz Kid. I was a teenage mom and thought every baby spoke in full sentences at 8 months old. It was truly amazing some of the things he accomplished on his own. He taught himself to read before the age of three. I say he taught himself because I never gave him any phonetic training, I only read to him and before I knew it he picked up the book "A Cat In The Hat" and read me the whole thing...not memorized but read. Int hubby and I thought he was just a fast learner. At the age between 4 and 5 he was bored with English and went on to read Spanish. Granted he did not know what he was reading because we don't speak Spanish but he pronounced just about every word correctly. Yeah he was a side show that folks loved to be entertained by. But there is a flip side. He was clumsy, I mean super clumsy. He walked into walls and tripped over his own feet. He didn't like to be around intellectually challenged people ( thank god he loves and humors me) and he, although he really tried, was not athletic. He absolutely loves sports hence his old job at the news paper, in the sports department writing those pages with all the stats. Anyway, he wanted to go into the Marines but his bubble was burst when we found out at the age of 18 he was partially deaf. Amazing to find out being he functioned normally with the only give away being he talked very loud and watched your mouth as you spoke. Not only did he have this but he also wasn't seeing very well. He really thought the world looked and sounded the way he saw it through his eyes and ears. How he got through school screenings and constant pediatric visits is beyond belief. Made me very mad. Anyway, the Marines lost a brilliant guy. He never pursued it. Matt told him to look into the Navy just recently. Don't know if he could pass the medical, again, what a loss of a brilliant person since he also is so well versed in strategies and millitary history.

Ok now I am rambling... And about my kids... Sorry guys. I feel like I am one of those. Moms who carry the little picture book... Ok, so maybe I am one of those!

Comment by Donna-Amanda's mom on May 6, 2011 at 12:42pm

Well, I finally heard from my daughter for the second time since she left. All she said was, "Did you send my box yet? Did y ou find my camo knife to put in?. If it's not too much trouble could you add some snacks to it? Not one word about either  port she has been in or what she is doing on the ship. So frustrating.

AJ- That cake sounds great. Never would have thought about that.

Iris- I'm with y ou. Never to work out again. Was doing great just on my WII and my treadmill. My feet and knees hurt so bad that I haven't done it in a couple days.

Hurley- Your son is so smart. Good job.

DO- Sorry about your cruise and the chit that was rejected. Feel bad for  you.

Hope all continue to hear from their sailors.

Comment by Mrs.B_Div 302_Ship9 on May 6, 2011 at 12:35pm

Hi Ladies... well my family is mourning the loss of a Sailor this weekend. It's a friend of our families and it's really hard on us. Keep us in your prayers. The death was VERY unexpected and we're feeling the sting of it greatly.

 

Thanks so much...

 

Hope you all have a nice day

Comment by AJ on May 6, 2011 at 12:00pm

CAKE IN A JAR

If you haven't already heard of this awesome care package item, you're about to stumble upon something awesome!!! I recently made this for my husband who is currently in Iraq. These are GREAT and just something that's homemade to include in a care package.

It's basically a mini cake inside of a mason jar. It arrives moist and fresh and tasty! (did I mention it's homemade??)

Here's how to make them:

Get wide-mouth canning jars. You can find them at Walmart, other stores, or online. Boil the jars to sterilize.

1 package of cake mix or any cake recipe

1. Make the cake batter according to the instructions or recipe
2. Grease the jar by liberally spraying the inside with cooking spray
3. Fill jar no more than 1/2 way with batter
4. Place jars on cookie sheet on rack in the oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean @ 400 degrees
5. While baking, boil jar lids in a pan of water
6. When cake is done, take on jar out at a time and cover with hot lid. Screw on jar ring tightening it slightly
7. The lid will seal as it cools. Listen to hear the "ping" as they seal.
8. As the cake cools, it will pull away frm the jar slightly. That's ok, it just means that it will slide out of the jar easily.
9. DO NOT FROST cake in the jar! Send frosting along.
10. Make sure you wrap the jars well (bubble wrap is preferrable, but wadded newspaper or clothing and other items will pad it too)

Don't forget to include a couple of plastic knives for the frosting and some plastic forks.

Some guys will even ask "How did you get the cake in there?" Ha ha ha. Just tell the the truth...MAGIC!

And here is the link:  you can google it too and find other ideas.  I think pie in a jar sounds good too.

Comment by iris - Wahiawa, Hawaii on May 6, 2011 at 11:51am

Yay - look at the conversation. =) You guys rock and I'm glad you are not ready to let this sail off into the sunset yet. Lol...  I slay me. At least someone thinks I'm cleaver. Lol....

 

Hurley - dang, you do have a smart kid. That's excellent. Sorry he can't find work either. Crazy isn't it. Seems like qualifications mean nothing, you have to have some kick ass luck to boot. Can't wait for more wedding photo's. I think I only saw a couple on your face book page. Let me know when you add more. Oh and that banana bread I baked, the Staff Sargent decided he and the other officer were going to take the two plates full home and not share. So now I have to personally deliver goodies to make sure everyone gets some. A plate each for Staff Sargent Brock and the other guy (need to learn his name) and then some for the hungry deppers that they just tortured. Lol....  I couldn't believe they did that. I also need to say that Cody is one of those kids that gets really amped up from a good physical challenge. They've been doing IPT (Intense Physical Training) and he comes back just chatty and up and bouncing off the walls, oh and covered in mud. I think this kid is going to be a career Marine. He LOVES it.

 

DO - "No" season stinks! Sorry your son was denied his chit and your vacation plans went into the crapper. I hope some "yes's" come your way soon. Cody has been considering breaking up for a while but didn't want to do it before Prom since they had planned it and all. He thought that would be mean. The funny part is that she wasn't upset, at all. They are still friends and seem happier for it. Go figure. Teenage romance, not really wanting to get in the middle of that.

Lol..... 

 

AJ - Still on River City. Booooo.....  suppose someone will have a heart and let them off on Sunday? Wouldn't that be the best Mother's Day gift EVER. Here's hoping. =) Meanwhile doesn't sound like you are having fun with all the surgeries. Ugh! Speedy recovery. And quite beating yourself up about stuff going to hell. It's just stuff. You can't beat yourself up with "what if's". Life throws shit at you and you just have to do the best you can at the time with it. That's why there is that saying "such is life". You gotta dig my logic... lol. Keep looking forward. Looking back is only for good memories, not bad. Now tell me more about this baking in a mason jar. Sounds cool.

 

Mary - Finger update. Did he break it and how? What did the Major say about Morgan working out with the Marines and you getting to watch. Lol... you'll have to be our eye's for us. Oh and you know the beauty about house cleaning is that it will still be there for you even if you put it off another day or two. Lol...

 

Nicole, Lyn, Proud, where are you guys?????  Who am I forgetting?

 

Well I did skype with Haley and she had nothing exciting to say. She's been studying her hiney off for some Qual's (qualifications) that she has to have for her rate and security clearance. If she doesn't get these she has two choices, leave or choose a new rate. So it's important she passes this stuff. Travis (our dear sweet Marine ex-boyfriend) is finally communicating with her. Secretly I hope she gets back with him, but I'm staying out of it. This is just between us.  =) Tonight is date night and since I forgot to marinate last nights dinner, we are having that tonight. Grilled Chicken Kabobs. I need to pull together some movie munchies and figure out what we are doing. Gene has been so busy with his shooting practice I've hardly seen him. Anyhow, not much else is going on. Bought my lawn chair so I could start tanning and guess what. It's raining again. Can you believe it. You can tell I'm from around these parts cause my skin is so translucent that you can see the blood pumping through my veins. When the sun hits my white ass it reflects off instead of tans. I really, really, really, hate this weather. Okay, whine, whine, whine, bitch and moan. All done. 

 

I suppose I need to get my butt to the gym. I was so sore these last few days I had to take it off. Now I'm feeling like I look (FAT MC FATTY) and need to stop feeding my mouth and burn a few calories. I certainly hope my regular doctor has more sympathy on me and will give me drugs. I hate to have to resort to the street stuff - I wouldn't even know how to begin. Lol... The headlines would read "40's, White female Mom, arrested for standing in the middle of the street in a seedy neighborhood, yelling "I need drugs". Officer's responded to neighbors calls about "a crazy lady" scaring off their customers." Think I'd loose weight in jail?

 

Alrighty - to the gym. Have a really great Mother's Day. Hope you hear from your Sailors. Hugs and RSL.

 

 

 

Comment by d o on May 5, 2011 at 9:49pm

What a nice post hurley.  WOW you have a child that scored perfect on the SAT!!!

What a crazy world when an intellect like that can find a job.  I heard the muslims have an opening now. Just kidding! Remind your son that he must use his power for good!

Thank you for your empathy.  It's comforting to hear from someone who's been there.  I'm sorry your circumstances caused that hole for you too.

I can't wait to hear what your good idea is.

by the way (btw)  RSL=rainbows, sunshine, and lollipops and that's what I wish for you.

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