Comment

Comment by Kaye S. on September 17, 2011 at 10:44am

Oh, Bubbasmom... I'm so sorry your things were returned.  Click on Mymobsmom's picture below and post your situation to her.  She's the Gold Ombudsman.  Unfortunately, she can't get your pages to the boat now, but perhaps she can tell you how to make it work next time.

"Family Grams" are no longer used.  Before email, the sailors were give a limited number of paper forms, which were filled out like telegram orders to be sent during cruise.  There was no communication TO the boat from family.

Just keep sending those emails... depending on what is taking place, he probably just doesn't have time to answer.  Does he have Dolphins yet?  Even so, he may be working extra hard to qualify for additional watches.

Here's a tip to know if your emails are delivered to the boat: the system only likes mssgs in "plain text" format.  If you create your mssg in "rich text" format, when it's sent to the boat, you'll get a mssg telling you it was converted back to plain text before being sent.  It's like a "delivery confirmation" from the post office.  If you want more detailed info, read the blog post on my personal page.

I understand your frustration... during one 3-month cruise, I only got one email, and that was two months in.  Hugs! k.

Comment by Bubbasmom on September 17, 2011 at 9:15am

Hi ladies,

I haven't gotten an email back from my son, so I wanted to send a familygram but I can't find a link that works... :(

 

Also, my calendar squares came back returned mail - I had sent them overnight and it said they were unclaimed.  I overnighted them to arrive on the 25th to USS Alabama Gold (FRG), Box 6203, Silverdale, 98315.  I think I was too late... :(

 

Anyway, could someone help me with the familygram thing since email seems to be even more sporadic.  (This is mine and my sailor's first time at all this - obviously...)  And also tell me when and what and where I can mail anything else - like regular mail.

 

Thanks! :)

Comment by Mymobsmom on September 7, 2011 at 8:10pm

Kendra and Marybeth, I think you are both awesome! Thank you for being so thoughtful of your sailors! They really do appreciate hearing from home. :D

Comment by Kaye S. on September 7, 2011 at 3:57pm

We Blue & Golds are like yo-yos... when you're down, I'm UP!  I've talked with son almost everyday since he's on stand-down.  DIL is working, so they're not doing anything special; which is great because I'll call him during the day just to chit chat, without driving his wife crazy :-)  Hugs! k.

Comment by Mymobsmom on August 17, 2011 at 11:45pm

oh, on the single sailor thing, any money that is left or shows up after they leave will be used to leave something in the barracks room of the guys when they get back. Last patrol we left $5 subway giftcards :D Just a little something to let them know they are loved!

Comment by Mymobsmom on August 17, 2011 at 11:09pm

You should be fine using standard mail. While we try to say "this is the deadline" the truth is if you get a calendar square to us before they leave, it will go down to the boat, even if it goes in my husband's seabag for him to give to the COB. :D  The videos will need a little more lead time to get them edited together. So ASAP!!!!!

 

Something that was pointed out to me by Kendra is that unless you are on the phone tree caller list you will most likely not be notified of maildrops. I don't think I will be able to share that information with you either, it has to go through the command phone tree. Please have your sons take care of that. He will need to make sure the ombudsmen have your contact info. 

 

Checks can be made out to the USS Alabama FRG. :D Thank you so much! 

If you want to be added to our regular mailing list, please email me at alabamafrg.gold@gmail.com. Please feel free to email if anything is confusing or you don't understand some of the lingo, we do have our own "language" and forget until you are immersed in it it is very confusing. I am working towards having separate lists for local/non local families so you don't get inundated with all the playdates/craft parties/movie nights :D 

 

The ombudsmen's contact info is now in the "contact" section also. 

 

I am more than happy to answer any other questions you may have :D

Comment by Bubbasmom on August 17, 2011 at 9:05pm

Kendrasue, Thank you... I was all mixed up, but I'm finally understanding the process. :) I will get it all together and in the mail tomorrow. Thanks so much for the clarification! I've been so frazzled lately that it takes a while for some stuff to sink in. lol

Thanks again!

Comment by Bubbasmom on August 17, 2011 at 5:36pm

Hi, I would love to send donations and squares and stuff for my sailor's box, but I just got this info and I still don't know the actual deadline. I see that the video deadline was the deadline was the 18th, and has been extended, but do I still have time to overnight midway box stuff and calendar squares and money if it will get there by Friday? Thanks so much!!

Comment by roberts_mom on August 17, 2011 at 3:32pm

thank you so much for the info.  We sent out the box (with the midway box inside) to our son on Monday, but since it is being sent from Southern California I hope he gets it in time. 

 

I will send out the Calendar square tonight.  His little sister made it and one for the whole crew so it is very special to her.

 

I would also like to Thank you guys for everything that you are doing, we are very new to this and so we are not sure what is happening but we don't want our son to miss out.

 

To repeat what Kendra said "You guys are the best"  Thank You.

Comment by Mymobsmom on August 17, 2011 at 9:50am

Sorry about that ladies, the address for the FRG is
USS Alabama (Gold) FRG
PO Box 6203
silverdale, WA
98315. Halfway boxes go out with your sailor. However... the FRG is doing a special activity for the single sailors, there were letters sent out to parents requesting monetary donations, some of the ladies then go out and buy stuff to make halfway boxes for all of our single guys. These halfway boxes, and only these are held by the command and then passed out halfway. We will also try to have a little something waiting in their barracks room for them when they get home with these funds. 

If you would like to contribute to that, please feel free to send money. We have done some of the shopping, and are doing more today.  

We are still accepting Calendar squares, which are 8.5 x 11 squares of paper decorated any way you would like. They are hung in the mess hall on the day(s) that you choose. If you don't care what day they go up on, feel free to leave the date blank and we will use them to fill in days that don't have many. We do ask a one dollar donation for each calendar square you submit.

We are also extending the video deadline. Our families seem to be procrastinating lol, I know I am! Please just get it to us asap.

Thank you so much for supporting your sailor!!

p.s. Kendra, your mom is AWESOME!! I enjoyed very much meeting her last night and the lavender made a lot of ladies night!!

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